Although the lightweight landscape has always been stocked to the brim with loads of talent, at one point, Vasiliy Lomachenko was once considered the very best that the division had to offer.
However, after years of grueling wars in the ring, coupled with his recent out-of-the-ring duties, Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) is ostensibly closer to the end of his career than he is to the beginning.
Still, the 35-year-old Ukrainian native is on the verge of going on at least one more run. Following his close unanimous decision victory over a game Jamaine Ortiz this past October, the former two-time Olympic gold medalist engaged in talks with current undisputed champion, Devin Haney.
With both Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos Jr. having transient reigns, Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) emerged as the man to beat. In his latest showing, a one-sided drubbing against the aforementioned Kambosos, Haney flirted with the idea of moving up in weight. But, at least temporarily, the 24-year-old will continue to campaign at 135 pounds.
Presently, both team Haney and team Lomachenko are merely dotting their i’s and crossing their t’s. According to Haney, the lone hold-up in negotiations is the exact site of their proposed May 20th showdown.
While their teams look to solidify things behind the scenes, Haney is sifting through countless hours of game tape as he dissects Lomachenko’s overall skills. After studying his in-ring tendencies and all-around attributes, Haney deduces that his impending Lomachenko bout is one that will not only end in his favor, but when the dust settles, he urges his supporters to not be surprised if he makes it look easier than expected.
“I see myself being dominant from round one until however long it lasts,” said Haney to Fight Hub TV. “I see myself being dominant the whole time.”