Devin Haney successfully defended his title as the undisputed lightweight boxing world champion, although his victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko via unanimous decision sparked controversy.
Haney started the fight with an advantageous position, but as the match progressed, he encountered one of the most challenging bouts of his career against the formidable Lomachenko.
The Ukrainian fighter showcased a brilliant performance, repeatedly pushing Devin on the defensive with a barrage of jabs.
Despite Haney being an American, the Las Vegas crowd noticeably chanted “Loma” throughout the fight and expressed their dissatisfaction by booing when Haney was ultimately declared the winner.
The divided reaction from the spectators reflected the intensity and competitiveness of the match, leaving fans and pundits alike debating the outcome.
Devin Haney threw calculated punches
Despite facing a formidable opponent in Lomachenko, Haney strategically targeted the Ukrainian’s body with punishing shots, causing him to endure a difficult time in the ring. As the fight unfolded, it seemed as though Loma was on his way to victory.
However, in a remarkable display of resilience, Devin found an extra level of performance in the final round. Throughout the bout, Lomachenko exhibited greater activity, throwing more punches than Haney.
Nevertheless, to the astonishment of many, all three judges scored the fight in Haney’s favor, with scores of 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113.
The fans expressed sheer disbelief, particularly with the 116-112 scorecard, leading to widespread debate and claim that Lomachenko had been unjustly “robbed” of a victory.
Biggest robbery ever https://t.co/3J72RMMpWS
— bready mercury đ (@Chewchxcheen) May 21, 2023
The controversial decision left a lingering sense of controversy and further fuelled discussions about the subjective nature of scoring in boxing.
When questioned about whether he felt he had been the victim of a robbery, the 35-year-old responded by saying, “I donât want to talk about this. All people saw what happened here today,”
Lomachenko and his team were not happy with the decision
During the post-match press conference, Vasyl Lomachenko’s manager, Egis Klimas, announced their intention to appeal against the decision.
Klimas asserted, “We’re not gonna let it go, I guarantee we’re gonna protest, we’re gonna appeal. Somebody needs to end this injustice.”
A noteworthy development is that Haney is being lined up for a potential clash against Shakur Stevenson in his upcoming fight.
With an excellent record of 30 wins and no losses, the American fighter continues to hold on to his World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Council (WBC), and World Boxing Organization (WBO) belts.
The stage is set for an intriguing showdown between these two talented boxers, with fans eagerly anticipating the outcome.
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