By Craig Daly: Devin Haney weighed 134.9 pounds for the defense of his undisputed lightweight championship against Vasyl Lomachenko this Saturday night, May 20th. Lomachenko weighed 135 lbs. Haney – Lomachenko will be broadcast live on ESPN+ PPV starting at 10 p.m. ET.
Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) will likely rehydrate 15 to 20 lbs now and have a big size advantage on Saturday against the former three-division world champion Lomachenko.
Vasyl Lomachenko says it’s all about size for Devin Haney and that it would be an easy fight for him if he were the same size for their fight this Saturday night on ESPN pay-per-view.
There’s no point in the two-time Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko discrediting Haney’s status due to his enormous size for the 135-lb division because this is a fight he wanted.
If Lomachenko had a problem with Haney being gigantic for the lightweight division, with his weight likely in the mid-150s on Saturday night, he shouldn’t have agreed to it.
Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) complains that Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) likes to hold after he throws a punch.
This tactic is one that Lomachenko has dealt with many times during his amateur and professional career, so he shouldn’t be upset or surprised if Haney uses it.
Lomachenko will challenge Haney this Saturday, May 20th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card sells for $59.00 on ESPN PPV.
Mark Kriegel: “Vasily, he’s longer, he’s bigger, and he’s younger. What are your advantages?” said Kriegel on his Twitter.
Vasyl Lomachenko: “I have extensive experience in this sport. He’s 24. So when he was born, I’d been training for ten years. Maybe it’s helped.
Kriegel: “When was the last time you were an underdog?”
Lomachenko: “I believe it was Gary Russell. It motivated me. It’s good because now I’m an underdog and not losing anything. I have two losses. He has zero. So, it’s big, big pressure for him.”
Kriegel: “What impresses you most about Devin Haney?”
Lomachenko: “It’s tough to impress me, but he has a tough style. After his punch, he always holds. It’s ONLY about size. If he were the same size as me and the same reach, it would be easier than we have.”
Kriegel: “You asked for it.”
Lomachenko: “But I understand it. It’s my choice.”
Kriegel: “Haney says, ‘There’s nothing Loma can do better than me. I’m better than him in every aspect.’ Your reaction.”
Lomachenko: “Those are just words. We’re not running together. We’re not jumping together. We’re not punching together. How do you know?”
Kriegel: “Haney says he wants to beat you up and send you into retirement.”
Lomachenko: “I don’t like him talking so much. It’s tough to prove your words. I want to give all myself in this fight because it’s the last chance to become undisputed.”
Kriegel: “This is it. This is your last chance.”
Lomachenko: “For me, yes. It’s the last chance.”
(Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)
• Devin Haney 134.9 lbs vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko 135 lbs
(Haney’s Undisputed Lightweight Championship – 12 Rounds)
Judges: Tim Cheatham, Dave Moretti and David Sutherland
Referee: Harvey Dock
• Oscar Valdez 132.1 lbs vs. Adam Lopez 132.1 lbs
(Junior Lightweight Rematch — 10 Rounds)
• Raymond Muratalla 133.9 lbs vs. Jeremia Nakathila 133.6 lbs
(Lightweight — 10 Rounds)
(ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)
• Andrew Moloney 114.5 lbs vs. Junto Nakatani 114.6 lbs
(Vacant WBO Junior Bantamweight Title — 12 Rounds)
• Nico Ali Walsh 158.4 lbs vs. Danny Rosenberger 158 lbs
(Middleweight — 8 Rounds)
(ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)
• Emiliano Fernando Vargas 133.8 lbs vs. Rafael Jasso 134.7 lbs
(Lightweight— 4 Rounds)
• Floyd Diaz 119.8 lbs vs. Luis Fernando Saavedra 119.8 lbs
(Junior Featherweight — 8 Rounds)
• Abdullah Mason 135.8 lbs vs. Desmond Lyons 135.3 lbs
(Lightweight — 6 Rounds)
• Amari Jones 160 lbs vs. Pachino Hill 161.9 lbs
(Middleweight — 6 Rounds)