Vasyl Lomachenko is one of the greatest fighters of all time, despite having had only 19 professional bouts.
Two Olympic Golds and three World Championships in an amateur career spanning 397 fights are treasure enough. That he lost only once is even more astonishing. But, at 35, his best is behind him, and against the Devin Haneys of this world any weaknesses are exposed.
I’m not a great fan of Haney’s style but I acknowledge his attributes. The question in Las Vegas is how much does Loma have left?
Lomachenko is a super featherweight really. He campaigns at lightweight because that is where the action has been. At his peak he was peerless and had he fought Haney then, he would be the undisputed champion defending all four belts.
Loma was so brilliant at attacking, with an incredibly efficient way of closing people down. His foot movement was spectacular for an aggressive fighter. I don’t think I have ever seen feet like his. If something of Loma’s best remains then Haney is in for a more difficult night than he imagines. If not, I fear the advantages are all his.
Haney is huge for the 135-pound lightweight limit and looks so much bigger than Loma. Like Teofimo Lopez, Haney could easily be at super welterweight by the time he enters the ring, as much as 20 pounds heavier.
Lomachenko does not benefit from boiling himself down to make weight. He is barely a pound heavier on fight night than he is at the weigh-in.
Arguably he underestimated Lopez. He was arrested by his power. Lopez was crammed into the weight and come the first bell weighed 156 pounds-plus.
He was just too big in the end. I don’t think Loma had ever been hit that hard. He was surprised by his power and ultimately could not deal with Lopez.
Haney will use the same physical advantages but in a different way. He is very fast and accurate. Loma is brilliant coming forward but at this stage his career I don’t see that troubling Haney, who will be too quick.
Haney is unmarked, bright and intelligent but just doesn’t excite me. As exceptional as he is, I get the feeling that I have seen it all before.
I have never felt that watching Lomachenko, who is a complete one-off. I see Haney winning but not by stoppage. Loma, who has won three times since losing to Lopez in 2020, is still too good to suffer that fate.
Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone @McGuigans_Gym
