By Dan Ambrose: Vasyl Lomachenko is looking in excellent shape training for his title challenge of undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney on May 20th.
The former three-division world champion Loma will give away weight and overall size to Haney, but he doesn’t seem too concerned about that.
He’s beaten bigger fighters than himself before, so it’s not an issue for him to be fighting someone that wouldn’t look out of place in the welterweight division.
Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) is looking fast of hand and light on his feet, as he gets ready to face the unbeaten Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) on ESPN PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
According to Chris Algieri, this could be the final time that Haney fights at 135 because he’s become too big for the division, and it will be a major ordeal for him to get down in weight to defend his four lightweight titles against Lomachenko.
While many boxing fans view Haney as having an advantage in this fight because of his size, what they’re failing to understand is how drained Haney could be making weight.
Loma won’t have to go through the same torturous process as Haney, so he’s not going to be looking like a zombie at the weigh-in or appear haggard during the fight.
“Youth and vitality. Devin is only 24 years old. He hasn’t been roughed up, and he hasn’t had dog fights. So this guy is fresh going into a war with Lomachenko,” said Claudia Trejos to ProBox TV.
“Potentially a war. Neither man is a war kind of guy, but honestly, if anyone wants to start a war, it’s Lomachenko,” said Chris Algieri. “Staying on the outside against the much bigger, longer [Haney].
“We saw at the press conference the size difference, height difference, and length difference, and we know about the reach difference. Also, Lomachenko isn’t cutting any weight. Devin Haney is cutting a lot of weight.
“To make 135, like Paulie alluded to in prior segments, this is probably the last time we’re going to see him at 135. Not because he doesn’t want to say here. It’s because he can’t stay here,” said Algieri about Haney potentially fighting for the last time at lightweight.
“Because he’s only 24,” said Trejos about Haney.
“Do we also credit Lomachenko for not looking for anything?” said Paulie Malignaggi. “Gervonta Davis inserted a rehydration clause with Ryan Garcia. We didn’t hear anything about that in this fight.
“That’s where you get Lomachenko is dangerous. The fact that he’s not asking for these things. Haney asked for more money. I heard they gave it to him,” said Malignaggi.
“He doesn’t have the position to ask,” said Algieri about Lomachenko NOT being the A-side in the promotion.
“But then again, Haney wasn’t in a position to get a title shot a couple of years ago,” said Malignaggi. “He was still lying to everybody like Lomacchenko ducked him when all he did was go for the undisputed title against Lopez. That’s not really a duck when you go for the tougher fight.”
“It’s different positions, though because Devin Haney was trying to get to that position, and Lomachenko had already been there. They had very different routes. Lomachenko fought everybody,” said Algieri.
“What I’m saying is you don’t have to be in any position. You can be in denial outright,” said Malignaggi.
“We’ve had a few of those,” said Trejos.
“Haney was in denial a couple of years ago,” said Malignaggi. “They’re thinking that Lomachenko ducked him. Every fighter is looking for a title shot. He [Haney] was in denial, thinking Lomachenko ducked him to fight Teofimo Lopez.
“At that point in time, if you give the same amount of money and the same amount of credit for a win over Devin Haney or over Teofimo Lopez. Everybody and their mother would pick Devin Haney because Teofimo Lopez was a much tougher fight at that point in time on paper, in reality.”