Lomachenko’s camp criticizes the judges after Devin Haney defended his light-weight title by unanimous resolution.
Undisputed light-weight champion Devin Haney retained his titles on the MGM Grand Backyard in Las Vegas, however not with out a controversial resolution that appealed to the plans of former tri-weight champion Vassily Lomachenko.
Lomachenko dominated the ultimate rounds of the combat on Saturday night time and outmaneuvered Haney 124-110.
However, a lot to the dismay of the 14,436 followers current, all three judges voted Hani the winner. Tim Cheatham and David Sutherland scored 115-113 within the combat, whereas Dave Moretti went 116-112.
Lomachenko’s supervisor stated they plan to enchantment the choice.
Greatest heist of daylight. In the summertime, the Heini staff had Christmas,” stated Egis Klimas. We’re going to enchantment this resolution. These judges do not perceive how laborious boxers work. I assure we can’t let this go. We wish to present that there ought to be justice.”
Haney improved to 30-0. Lomachenko, 35, fell to 17-3.
Each fighters had been aggressive all through the primary half of the combat, with Honey utilizing his size and power to work on his again leg as Lomachenko continued to hit the champion together with his jackhammer left hand to the top.
However because the combat progressed, it was the senior statesman who punished the 24-year-old Honey, gorgeous him with mixtures, together with a robust ninth spherical when the champion started to indicate his fatigue.
All three judges scored a comparatively shut outcome within the twelfth spherical, which might have been in Haney’s favor anyway, 10-9. In any other case, the combat would have been a draw on the 2 judges’ scorecards.
“I believe I confirmed that I can nonetheless be in boxing, now I’m in good condition,” Lomachenko stated. I’ll win this combat. Twelve rounds over, I used to be certain that I gained this combat. I really feel like I am answerable for this combat.”
Honey was nothing greater than a praise to his opponent.
“Lomachenko is a future Corridor of Famer,” Haney stated. It was a blessing. He was my strongest opponent. He was very crafty. He reveals it within the championship rounds. [This fight] without end put me within the historical past books.
Lomachenko returned to the ring in October final yr after enlisting within the Ukrainian Territorial Protection Squad following Russia’s invasion of the nation.
Haney grew to become the primary undisputed world light-weight champion since Pernell Whitaker in 1990, defeating George Kambosos in Melbourne in June 2022.
Now Haney has to decide as he can be a free agent when he wakes up Sunday morning as his three-fight contract with Prime Rank and Lou DiBella has expired.
Haney definitely has quite a lot of choices as he might keep at 135 kilos for one last combat the place a extremely anticipated bout awaits fellow weight mate Shakur Stevenson, who was in attendance on Saturday.
Haney might additionally transfer as much as welterweight, the place he’ll problem for the second division title as he prepares to face the winner of the June 10 bout between Josh Taylor and Teofimo Lopez Jr.
The wild card combat was scheduled to happen in opposition to Gervonta Davis, who regarded spectacular in his victory over Ryan Garcia on April 22.
“My staff and I are going to go residence and watch the combat and mirror on it,” Hani stated, including that he has all the time discovered it troublesome to get to 135 kilos.
“I have been at 135 for an extended, very long time. That is my thirtieth combat. I’ve been right here at 135 since I used to be 16. We will return to the lab and discover out what’s subsequent.”
