Haney / Lomachenko PREVIEW

By Tom Donelson / Author, Member Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) and contributor to www.dmboxing.com since 2008

Vasyl Lomachenko seems to have been with us for a long time, but he has only fought 19 professional fights. He fought for his title in his third fight as he upset Gary Russell Jr for Russell’s feather weight title.  My first thought was that he would go the way of past Olympic stars who went for the title too early in their careers.  Davey Moore in, his ninth fight, won the world super welterweight title but in his thirteenth fight, he lost to Roberto Duran and from that point, was never the same fighter. He went on to lose four more times and retired with an 18-5 record.

Olympic gold medalist Pete Rademacher fought Floyd Patterson in his first fight as a pro for Patterson’s heavyweight title. He knocked Patterson down in the second round but then hit the canvas six times before the fight was stopped. He then lost to heavyweight contender Zora Folley.  He went on to fight many contenders and finished with a 15-7 record.   Then there was Leon Spinks who won a heavyweight title from Muhammad Ali in his eighth fight before losing the rematch. From that point he went from the apex of the sport to mediocrity finishing with a 26-17 record. 

Lomachenko never suffered the fate of the other Olympic champions who won or fought for titles too early in their careers. He has a 13-1 record in championship bouts and now he is facing Devin Haney for all of Haney’s belts.

At 35, Lomachenko still has the talent to win the title back, but Haney is a good boxer who has the speed and agility to frustrate Lomachenko.

Haney went to Australia to capture the lightweight titles as he defeated Georgie Kambosos Jr. in Kambosos backyard.   And when he defended his title, he went to Australia to give Kambosos a shot to regain his title, but he won even more easily.

This bout is an interesting bout for both are good boxers, but Lomachenko can turn aggressor if the needs arrive. Haney surprised everyone when he went down under and easily out boxed Kambosos not once but twice.  Haney strength will be his quickness and mobility whereas Lomachenko is a good boxer in his own right, but he also can be a good inside fighter with body shots. Lomachenko doesn’t have the quickness of Haney so he may be forced into trench warfare to reduce Haney’s mobility. While Haney has had more fights overall, Lomachenko has been involved with more championship bouts and his lengthy amateur career supplemented his professional career. Lomachenko is the rare fighter who quickly translated his amateur career into a successful professional career.  In his third fight, he won a championship and won titles in three different weight classes.  While many favor Haney due to his speed and youth, there is something to be said for experience and Lomachenko has yet to be stopped. 

The lightweight division is full of solid fighters beginning with Gervonta Davis, the undefeated power puncher who just finished off Ryan Garcia, and Shakur Stevenson who is also undefeated and just finished off Shichiro Yoshino.  For Lomachenko, he still has the skills to win a title but the fighters above him-Davis, Stevenson, and Haney-are three very good fighters and have yet to lose a fight. There is no easy path, and his first domino is Haney. If he loses, it may prove difficult to fight for another title.

As for Haney, this is his chance to set up an even bigger fight with Davis or Stevenson plus Haney may be interested in moving up to the junior welterweight division where Davis is thinking of moving. I anticipate the Haney-Lomachenko bout will go the distance with Haney winning a close decision. 

One thought on “Haney / Lomachenko PREVIEW

  1. That was my take for the most part going in. Just an FYI, Oscar Collazo is the next Loma/Inoue.

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