Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko fight predictions
As two of the world's most skillful lightweights clash this weekend, BBN asked their panel of experts who they think wins when American hero Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15KO) defends his Undisputed lightweight crown to incredible Ukrainian Vasiliy “Hi-Tech” Lomachenko (17-2, 11KO).
Hear what our experts had to say, which includes boxers, trainers, managers, writers and another undisputed champion:
Saul “Canelo” Alvarez(Speaking to Fighter’s Corner)
“It’s a nice fight, I like it. I think both are good fighters, but Devin Haney right now is the favourite.”
Teofimo LopezFormer unified lightweight champion
“Nobody beats Lomachenko – nobody.
“I’ve been in the ring with the man, he’s smart, he has so many different tactics that I never even thought of being possible.
“This guy has dirty tactics, he has clean tactics, and overall has the experience. I don’t think any of them are ready for that.”
Shakur StevensonFormer two-weight world champion
“I think he [Devin Haney] smokes Lomachenko.
“Lomachenko is too old, too small. I didn’t like the way he looked against Ortiz. I saw him in the gym two or three weeks ago, he looked like a 126lb fighter, he doesn’t look like a 135lb fighter.
“I think Dev is too long and tall.”
Mauricio SulaimanWBC President
“They are without doubt, the creme de la creme of boxing. Haney has proven over and over again, he is a great champion. While Lomachenko is a legendary double Olympic champion and, as a pro, a great world champion in three divisons.
“It's going to be an absolutely great fight. Lomachenko is a warrior. He's going to try his best so that the young man doesn't defeat him, so he's going to give it his best, and this will be an historic fight.
“If Devin Haney wins, he will be a Superstar. He's already a star. Victory will propel him to the even higher level. This is why this fight will be so absolutely fascinating!”
Rick RamosBoxing Trainer / Manager
“Loma is getting older, he may have lost a step or two. With that being said… I think this is Haney’s coming out party. Haney wins in dominate fashion. I see a late stoppage.”
Matt MarshFormer British super-bantamweight champion
“Loma is my favourite fighter and Devin Haney is a class act but Haney looks the bigger boxer and Loma is getting old.
“It will be a good fight but sadly I have to say Haney wins, only because of those two reasons.
“Haney wins on points.”
Ryan WalshFormer British featherweight champion
“The southpaw master will win this fight in great fashion. The stance alone will negate Haney's best weapon (his jab) plus Loma's footwork will be like nothing the young champion has ever seen.
“His size is his best asset but, again, 'The Matrix' will nullify this by use of his footwork and superior ring generalships. The experienced veteran will have one of his best nights and fights. Loma will make history again. He has lost to a young hungry champion in Teofimo Lopez before. I don’t see him making the same mistakes he did that night. He must win the early rounds.”
Liam WalshFormer British & Commonwealth super-featherweight champion
“I think it’s a fight that reminds me of when Manny Pacquiao fought Keith Thurman. Big left-handed fighter against a fast-footed southpaw – big problem.
“We’ll find out if Haney is the real deal, we already know Loma is! I think Haney wins.”
Tim BradleyFormer world champion
“I look at this fight, and I see it going a couple of different ways. I wouldn’t be surprised if Devin Haney is the aggressor in this fight.
“Lomachenko likes to operate at midrange, and if he can get past the lead hand of Haney and get past some of those counters and work his way to the inside and work his quick set offense and get around to that angle, then he’s got a dang good chance of pulling off this upset.
“Compelling styles, fantastic match-up. You have the highly experienced and well-accomplished Lomachenko, and he’s facing the young, hungry, talented undisputed champion in Devin Haney. It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Tim Rickson BBN Editor
“Loma needs to start fast and win the very first round onwards. He's up against a defending champion in his home town who is noticeably bigger. Haney is 24 and Loma 35. After his loss to Teofimo Lopez, the question is how much does he have left? But the bigger factor here is size. When Loma fought the far bigger Orlando Salido, he lost his first pro fight; then up at lightweight against Lopez, he lost a second time. So he has only lost to bigger guys.
“In this fight, there can be no time taken to data collect, like Loma usually does during the first few rounds, he needs to just trust his instincts and start boxing his way from the first bell, taking necessary risks. His last loss to Teofimo Lopez, he didn't really get going until the eighth round and, by that time, it was too little-too late. This is something he cannot afford to do against Haney. If he allows himself to be outpunched and outworked early, then I think he has very little chance of winning.
“I can see Haney just landing his sharp, accurate jab from range, using his feet to keep the distance between them and clinching where needed, and just slowly racking up the rounds in his favour to win on points. I can't see either one getting stopped, so I think it will be a close, technical contest that the champion will edge on points.
“Loma is the best fighter Haney has even come against so I hope there'll be lots of problems encountered by the champ, clever tricks of the trade from the veteran to make this a really interesting, close contest that has us all on the edge of our seats.”
Roy Jones JrFormer four-weight world champion
“Loma’s a technical fighter and he’s one of my favourites – he’s gonna always be one of my favourites. So is Haney. But what I do like about the fight for Haney is that it’s gonna be size versus experience.
“Haney’s gonna be the bigger fighter, and Lopez showed that the bigger fighter’s gonna give Loma a problem. That’s how Loma got his first loss with a bigger fighter – the guy didn’t make weight and he beat him.
“We know that Loma’s blueprint [to beating him] is being the bigger guy. Haney’s definitely a bigger guy, who also can box.”
Ben DayFormer Southern Area super-lightweight champion
“I love it how the lightweights are getting in it on recently, heavyweights take note!
“Good fight this, obviously Loma is coming to the end of his career now and Haney is a young and hungry fighter but I honestly think Loma can beat Haney, only slightly though, I think he will edge it on points, I don’t think there will be any knockouts from either side.
“Loma, points win.”
Codie Smith Unbeaten featherweight prospect
“I’ve got Haney by wide points decision – too big, long and awkward for Loma. Size is the main factor in this one, I think Haney dominates start to finish.”
Jamie Speight Three-weight Southern Area champion
“As the time has gone by over the week I’ve weighed this one up and looked at all the possible outcomes and I feel like Haney is using over confidence to cover up his worry and insecurity regarding the task in hand.
“Loma, a defensive genius, possibly one of the greatest technical fighters in history, and people forget he’s comfortable at this weight, we all know Haney struggles and we’ve seen him on death's door over and over again. There is only so long you can boil your body down before it comes back to haunt you and a prime example of more recent times is Lee Selby killing himself to make feather.
“For me, Haney starts well might steal a few rounds but gets tired from a combination of being made to miss and the weight cut; with that, he loses heart and confidence. Loses either down the stretch or a late stoppage for Loma depending on the extremity of his weight cut… and I think that will be mentioned in his after fight interview also as he claims to move up.”
Uros DjikanovicBoxing manager & advisor
“Well as much as I love the way Lomachenko fights I think Devin Haney wins this fight.
“Lomachenko in my opinion is the second best ever southpaw fighter when it comes to movement only behind Pernell Whitaker. Lomachenko has great foot movement, coordination and speed but I just think Haney is currently better and by the time Haney retires he will be remembered as one of the all time greats.
“ It will be a thrilling fight but I think Haney ultimately wins on points. I think Haney’s biggest advantage in this fight is defense and I think a lot of Lomachenko’s right hooks will land on Haney’s left shoulder.”
Arijan GorickiFeatherweight prospect
“Even though Haney is favorite in this fight, I think that Loma will win and probably stop him in the later rounds. I just don't think that Haney is on that elite level to beat someone like Loma, he is bigger but I don't think that he has power like Lopez had, that made Loma think.”
Anish ParekhBBN Writer
“I'm really intrigued by this crossroads fight between two exceptional talents.
“Devin Haney has squeezed himself into the body of a lightweight despite having a massive frame. That's testament to his discipline and diligence in looking after his body.
“Vasyl Lomachenko is the opposite. At featherweight and super-featherweight the challenges and the money just weren't there, which was all the encouragement he needed to jump up to the traditionally more glamorous and lucrative lightweight division.
“It feels like these world class stylists have already circled each other over the last few years and whilst Haney claims that he dislikes Loma for not giving him an opportunity 4 years ago, he should probably be thankful to his Ukrainian adversary.
“If it wasn't for Lomachenko relinquishing the WBC title and it being handed to Haney, the American would have presented little leverage in negotiating two undisputed bouts with George Kambosos, with The Dream winning both contests with ease.
“I've no doubt that Lomachenko will be coming into this clash fully fit, focussed and motivated, not just for personal glory but also for his beloved Ukraine. He will have to start quickly, and take some risks to prevent Haney from gathering momentum. Whilst the undisputed champion clearly has exceptional talent, he hasn't fought a world class fighter with an elite mindset before and this could be problematic for him.
“However, the old adage often rings true that a good big one beats a good little one. Haney is young, fresh, big, disciplined, ambitious, and ultimately highly skilled. Unless Lomachenko can seriously hurt Haney from relentless volume, I can't see the American losing. His discipline will be key in playing it safe, keeping the fight at distance and popping the smaller man with his excellent jab and occasional straight right hands.
“It won't be exciting but Haney will be happy to make a statement at the expense of one of the best pugilists of the past 10 years, that will remove doubt of him belonging in the pound-for-pound rankings and atop a stacked lightweight division.”
John J. Raspanti Editor-lead writer www.maxboxing.com
“Devin Haney is younger, longer, and more athletic. Vasyl Lomachenko is older, shorter, and less athletic.
“Lomachenko was a great fighter a few years ago. The last few years, not so much.
“Haney dominated George Kambosos twice. Played with him. Like Lomachenko used to do.
“Haney has the edge, but all outstanding fighters have one more great one in them.
“Lomachenko will need to turn back the clock to win.”
Betting Insider Journal
“I expect this fight to be as technical as it comes in boxing. In order for Lomachenko to win this fight, I think he may have to take bigger risks than Haney. For any fighter to take chances against Haney and fight more aggressively, it always falls into his hands. Haney will have to watch Loma’s power that is underrated, a knockdown or two could be enough to sway the judge’s scorecards – if he goes the distance.
“At this point in his career, I see Loma struggling to find a way to get at Haney. Haney’s precision and patience pay off as he starts to clock rounds over Loma. This fight will still be close and my early money is on Haney edging out a close decision over Loma.”
Aqib TahlatBBN Writer
“This is a very interesting fight. It’s a fight I’ve been thinking about for a while on who will come out victorious.
“Lomachenko has been quite inactive for the past two years due to political reasons, however he did very well in his last fight against a very good fighter in Jamaine Ortiz. He was a sparring partner of Lomachenko's, therefore presented a lot of difficulties but Loma did very well to come out on top in the championship rounds.
“Devin Haney is an amazing mid range to outside fighter. One of the best, however in this fight Loma will close the gap with his angles and make Haney fight on the inside. That’s the question, how will Haney handle the pressure when trying to fight on the inside.
“Haney has range and size on his side but this will get brutal and dirty so will Haney be prepared for that?
“It will go the distance and I’m edging Haney just on pure activity and he is the younger fighter but this fight is very close and it is hard one to call.
“Also, the reason I’m going for Haney is because Loma in his last few fights is showing he takes time getting his engine started, in his prime he took a few rounds to get started, now he takes 5-6 rounds like he did against Lopez and Ortiz. If he doesn’t start quick against Haney, it will be a complete shutout.”
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