By Sam Volz: Paulie Malignaggi says he doesn’t like the disrespect Devin Haney has shown former three-division world champion Vasily Lomachenko in the build-up to their May 20th fight on ESPN+ PPV.
Malignaggi feels that Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) has a paper-thin resume consisting of mainly old guys and should be more “gracious” to Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) because, without him, he wouldn’t have won the undisputed lightweight championship last year.
Lomachenko was planning to fight IBF, WBA & WBO lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr last year and would have likely beaten him with ease, but the Russian-Ukrainian war broke out, and he returned to his country Ukraine to defend.
Only then did Haney take advantage of Lomachenko’s absence to face the vulnerable Kambosos to relieve him of his three 135-lb titles?
What’s interesting is that Haney’s victories in the last three years seem to have gone to his head, making him believe that he’s beaten the best at 135 when in reality, he’s defeated guys that Lomachenko’s last opponent Jamaine Ortiz likely would have beaten.
Haney’s best career wins
- George Kambosos Jr
- Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz
- Jorge Linares
- Yuriorkis Gamboa
- Alfredo Santiago
- Zaur Abdullaev
The names that are missing from Haney’s resume are from this list of upper-level killers:
- Gervonta Davis
- Shakur Stevenson
- William Zepeda
- Keyshawn Davis
- Frank Martin
- Jamaine Ortiz
- Eric Cruz
- Shuichiro Yoshino
“I think it’s the best fight that can be made in the lightweight division,” said Paulie Malignaggi on his Youtube channel about the Devin Haney vs. Vasily Lomachenko fight on May 20th.
“Haney has the undisputed lightweight title. Lomachenko is a guy, in my opinion, would have had the undisputed lightweight title if he didn’t have to deal with the way.
“I probably was feeling some sort of the way about how Haney was disrespecting Lomachenko, a guy that basically allowed you to win the title when you weren’t champion before, and yes, Haney wasn’t a champion before and is also a legend in the sport.
“I would have thought you would have been more gracious. Lomacheenko has been a legend in the game, and Haney is coming up behind him. So there should be a little bit of respect in that regard.
“Plus, on top of that, you’re only champion because he allowed you to fight for a title after he pulled out because of the war. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even have the title. So, I wasn’t too crazy about the disrespect that Haney has shown Lomachenko.
“Haney’s fanbase has really disrespected Lomachenko in the build-up to all of this. I wouldn’t say it clouded my judgment, but it made me not give Haney the credit that I probably would have given him.
“I’ve always said Haney is a good fighter. I just think he doesn’t win this fight. Haney has been good enough to get here, and when you get here, you fight the fights that give you answers about yourself. I’m looking forward to it,” said Malignaggi.
