boxing
Boxing fans dispute ‘robbery’ in Haney and Lomachenko’s bout
Haney triumphs in lightweight championship bout, Lomachenko is seen devastated, and fans call judges’ scorecards a ‘robbery’
Following an absorbing battle between Devin Haney and Vasily Lomachenko Saturday night, a cascade of boos erupted from fans at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The reason was the highly controversial points victory given to Haney, allowing him to retain his undisputed WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO lightweight world titles for the first time in the US. Some fans even branded the decision a ‘robbery’.
Thirty-five-year-old boxing legend, Lomachenko, was expected to add undisputed status to his enormous list of career achievements, but instead fell to a third loss, which could well be his final chance at the very highest level. Haney, who now moved to 30-0 as a professional in the process, has to decide whether to move up in weight or else stay at 135lbs and proceed with blockbuster bouts against the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis.
The Ukrainian underdog, who spent a year defending his country after the Russian invasion in 2022, was greeted with cheers from the crowd in Las Vegas, who also stuck around to hear him speak after the defeat.
Loma vs Haney
Loma, who was seen breaking down in tears as he headed to the dressing room, later explained that he had “just remembered that my son today called me seven times and every time told me, ‘And the new, and the new.’ I remembered this moment, it was very hard for me.”
Haney, on the other hand, said “Lomachenko is a future Hall of Famer, it was a blessing. I got to take my hat off to him, he was my toughest opponent by far, he’s very crafty and we put on a great fight for the fans,” Haney said.
“He turns it up in the championship rounds, he’s a great fighter. This fight put me in the history books forever, it means everything to me and my team.”