By: Sean Crose
Make no mistake about it – this Saturday’s undisputed light-weight title match between Devin Haney and Vasyl Lomachenko represents the second of fact for every fighter. For Lomachenko, the results of this weekend’s bout will dictate the course the rest of his profession will take. Should he lose, Lomachenko, the person as soon as thought of the perfect pound for pound boxer on earth, will probably be seen as a person whose time has really come and gone. Should Haney lose, he’ll considered as man who was despatched again to earth by an growing old nice, a fighter not fairly pretty much as good as he was made out to be.
The 17-2 Lomachenko is now 35 years of age. He has rightly been thought of the best fighter to ever compete within the amateurs. In the early portion of his skilled profession, Lomachenko was even thought of on his approach to being the best professional boxer in historical past, as effectively. That might have been a part of the HBO hype machine, as HBO aired Lomachenko’s fights on the time. Still, the person was insanely spectacular within the ring, turning his opponents at will and making a number of of these opponents in a row stop on their stools. Then got here Teofimo Lopez.
Unlike lots of Lomachenko’s earlier ring foes, Lopez was neither impressed nor intimidated by the lauded Ukrainian. And certainly, he fought accordingly, utilizing his peak to maintain from being turned, and refusing to let Lomachenko win the important twelfth and ultimate spherical. After the decide’s playing cards had been learn, Lomachenko had been knocked off his pedestal, his WBA and WBO title belts now in Lopez’ possession. Lomachenko has received three in a row since that point however he hasn’t but been offered an opportunity to regain his former glory.
Until now.
Unlike Lomachenko, the 29-0 Haney is, at 24, nonetheless a younger man. In truth, he’s roughly 11 years youthful than Lomachenko – a lifetime within the combat sport. Like Lomachenko, Haney has defeated a line of proficient opponents. Jorge Linares, Yuriorkis Gamboa and Joseph Diaz have all fallen sufferer to the Las Vegas primarily based fighter’s terribly fluid ability set. Haney might not have extraordinary knockout energy – however frankly, he doesn’t want it. For Haney has mastered the primary rule of boxing: to hit and never get hit. Should he defeat Lomachenko once they meet in Vegas this weekend, Haney may have erased any lingering query as as to if he’s pretty much as good as marketed.
Unfortunately the Haney-Lomachenko combat will probably be broadcast on Pay Per View. Such a combat, fascinating and related as it’s, merely doesn’t warrant a raid on viewers wallets. The purchase charge will almost definitely be fairly low. This bout will greater than possible be a chess match versus a brawl. Haney-Lomachenko is, the truth is, a combat for many who admire the craft. We who do admire it have motive to look ahead to it.
