Devin Haney Set for Toughest Test Yet Against Lomachenko

Undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney is set for the toughest test of his professional

career so far when he defends his four belts against Vasiliy Lomachenko at the MGM Grand

Gardens Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 20.

This will be the second time he will put all four belts on the line in the division. Victory

against the Ukrainian would cement his place as the most dominant boxer at this weight.

Haney Proved His Class With Susscess Against Kambosos Jr

Haney returns to the USA following two victories in Australia. He claimed the WBA (Super), IBF, and WBO titles with a points success against George Kambosos Jr in June 2022 in Melbourne. The judges scored the bout 116-112, 116-112, and 118-110 in his favour, in what was a dominant performance.

The Australian took up his rematch clause and faced Haney for a second time in the same ring in October. The margin of success for the American was even wider on that occasion, as the fight was scored 118-110, 118-110, and 119-109, defending all four of his belts.

Haney has a 29-0 record going into the fight with Lomachenko. Notable wins have come against Jorge Linares, Joseph Diaz Jr, and Zaur Abdullaev. He is the number one ranked lightweight with The Ring, but he will be hoping to climb into their pound-for-pound top 10 in 2023.

In what is set to be his toughest assignment yet as a professional, Haney is the -250 favourite for those looking to place a boxing bet on the champion. The majority of the crowd is likely to be behind the home fighter.

Lomachenko Bidding for More World Title Glory

Former Olympic gold medallist Lomachenko has won world titles in three weight divisions, including lightweight where he is currently boxing at. It took him just three professional fights to win the first of those when he defeated Gary Russell Jr for the WBO featherweight crown.

The WBO junior lightweight title went the Ukrainian fighter’s way when he got the better of Roman Martinez in his sixth contest as a pro. He knocked out the Puerto Rican in the fifth round of that contest.

Big thanks to my best fans around the world #onemorebelt pic.twitter.com/veKxSs6PBW

— LOMA (@VasylLomachenko) September 1, 2019

Lomachenko jumped up to the lightweight division in 2018 and he showed his class against Linares, beating the champion with a 10th-round stoppage. He defended that belt against Jose Pedraza Anthony Crolla and Luke Campbell. The success against Pedraza ensured the WBO title went his way, while against Campbell, he won the vacant WBC crown.

The man nicknamed 'The Matrix' suffered just the second defeat of his career when he lost to Teofimo Lopez. He has recovered from that loss with wins over Masayoshi Nakatani, Richard Commey, and Jamaine Ortiz.

The fight against Haney represents a big opportunity for Lomachenko. Victory would not only ensure he becomes the undisputed lightweight champion for the first time in his career, but it would elevate himself alongside some of the biggest names in the sport again.

This bout has the makings of being one of the best in 2023, and should both men turn up at their best, it will be a difficult fight to call.