If Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia was the hors d’oeuvre, this Saturday’s title protection by Devin “The Dream” Haney towards former champion Vasiliy “The Matrix” Lomachenko is the primary course for battle followers and right this moment’s light-weight division. It has all of it: a hungry, younger champ eagerly knocking on the door of boxing stardom, a proud however growing older ex-champ determined to point out he’s nonetheless the pound-for-pound phenom he as soon as was, and the additional advantage that there’s completely zero ambiguity that the winner of this match-up shall be acknowledged because the undisputed, lineal king of one of many hottest divisions in boxing.
Since Teofimo Lopez shocked the boxing world in 2020 by unifying the light-weight division for the primary time since Pernell Whitaker did in 1990 with a clear-cut factors victory over Lomachenko, the undisputed title has modified palms twice. First, George Kambosos emerged from the land down beneath to attain a stunning upset victory over Lopez, dropping the unbeaten “Takeover” and gritting it out late to win a cut up choice. Then, Devin Haney lastly put an finish to the farcical distinction between WBC world and “franchise” champion (no matter that’s) by dominating Kambosos twice within the Aborigine’s place of origin to turn out to be “the person” at 135.
It’s uncommon now to see younger boxers take such dangers this early of their careers, as a 23-year-old Haney might have bided his time beneath the Matchroom banner together with his WBC belt, persevering with to increase his unbeaten report towards worthy but beatable opposition like JoJo Diaz and Jorge Linares. However “The Dream,” like Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia, was prepared to face a severe threat in an effort to cement his legacy, fairly than merely pad his checking account and social media following. And now, in his first voluntary protection of the light-weight crown (the Kambosos rematch was contractually obligated), Haney is taking over clearly one of the crucial harmful contenders in Lomachenko.
There’s a credible case to be made that Loma is previous his prime, given his 35 years of age, his quite a few accidents and related layoffs, his almost 400-bout novice profession, and a detailed name in his final bout towards comparatively unheralded prospect Jamaine Ortiz. You too can make the case that “The Matrix” has by no means been a real light-weight, as the primary indicators that he was a mere mortal within the squared circle arose when he moved as much as 135 and struggled in victories over Jorge Linares and Jose Pedraza earlier than his defeat towards Teo in 2020.
Nevertheless, because the Lopez loss, he has given us two of his most spectacular light-weight performances towards high quality contenders Masayoshi Nakatani and Richard Commey. Like Haney, Lomachenko is motivated by legacy over fiscal consolation and recognition, and when the Ukrainian patriot might have assured himself of much less dangerous match-ups by shifting right down to 130 after it appeared that the writing was on the wall towards Teo, as a substitute “The Matrix” instantly pursued a rematch. Solely when that was off the desk did he contemplate different choices after which he went proper after a shot towards an arguably extra harmful light-weight champion in Devin Haney.
Haney has made no secret that his days at 135 are numbered, and a transfer as much as 140 is imminent. His dimension benefit, mixed together with his crafty skill to manage vary and distance, symbolize very troublesome obstacles for Loma to get round, significantly because the shorter Vasiliy is giving up over 5 inches in attain. If the Lopez and Orlando Salido defeats taught us something about Loma’s weaknesses, it’s that he tends to shell up towards larger fighters that don’t let him seize the momentum in shut quarters and do his trademark good work off of intelligent motion and angles.
On this regard, Haney is usually a significantly stiff problem for Loma, as he’s arguably a extra full boxer than both Teo or Salido, although it’s most likely secure to say that he doesn’t possess the identical sort of explosive energy as Lopez. If Loma desires to keep away from falling behind on factors early as he did towards Lopez, he should take extra dangers towards Haney to chop the space and set up his offense. If he can do that efficiently, he’ll be asking some essential inquiries to a younger, creating champion like Haney, who has largely dominated opposition on the vary of his selecting.
Additionally, whereas Haney is the larger man, he has been damage in previous performances, most notably towards Linares when the bell saved him in spherical ten. Lomachenko is just not an enormous one-punch knockout artist, however he is a good physique puncher and, when he’s actually in full move, is usually a very efficient sharp-shooter. The extra momentum and confidence Loma can accrue towards his opponents, the extra devastating a puncher he turns into, as Nakatani and Commey can attest.
By this level, Loma has revealed what he’s all about within the ring. He thrives off momentum, however is susceptible earlier than he can set up it. The end result of this bout, for my part, actually hinges off of what intangibles Devin Haney has in his arsenal, specifically whether or not he can thwart Lomachenko’s offense, inhibit him on the within successfully, management and re-establish his vary as crucial, and face up to a possible late rally from the proud ex-champion. One thing tells me he has the products to drag this off in a career-defining victory, however I might not be shocked if Lomachenko has one final nice efficiency in him and might regain the title. I count on a technical, twelve spherical battle of wits with spurts of good motion and stretches of good boxing, with Haney rising the victor by way of shut choice.
However no matter who wins Saturday, the light-weight division will turn out to be that a lot richer due to Haney vs Lomachenko, assuming every man then stays at 135 kilos. Haney, Lomachenko, “Tank” Davis and Shakur Stevenson are the 4 kings of the light-weight division in the meanwhile, and with three of the 4 beneath the identical promotional outfit, we are able to fairly count on some mouth-watering matchups to be made within the very close to future. Hopefully Haney vs Lomachenko is simply the primary of many. –Alden Chodash
