In addition to bringing his boxing trunks and gloves to the ring with him, Devin Haney is now under the impression that Vasiliy Lomachenko will need a walking cane and dentures before they officially face off.
Throughout the majority of the Ukrainian’s career, he’s been lauded for his ability to seamlessly shift from offense to defense. His malleable style of attack has ultimately led to world title reigns in three separate weight classes and universal praise as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
But while Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) is normally kept in high regard, Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) has become annoyed by the growing narrative surrounding his upcoming foe. At the newly turned age of 35, there’s a sentiment now forming that the former Olympic gold medalist has seen better days. With the two set to square off next month on May 20th, Haney will march into their bout as a significant favorite.
Although Haney is doing his best to ignore the outsiders, he admits that he’s become a bit annoyed by those who continually describe Lomachenko as an aging fighter. To back his claim that the Ukrainian isn’t a senior citizen, Haney simply points to a certain pound-for-pound stalwart who’s also in his mid-thirties.
“Terence Crawford older than Loma, is he old? No,” said Haney to a group of reporters recently. “They not saying that he old, don’t say that Loma’s old. Now all of a sudden he got old overnight.”
Crawford, often referred to as the best fighter in the world, is just a few months away from his 36th birthday. Still, even with the miles on his odometer steadily rising, Crawford appears to be at the top of his game. Lomachenko, on the other hand, has been mostly viewed as a declining fighter.
In his most recent outing, the former amateur standout was widely expected to take care of business against Jamaine Ortiz. The 26-year-old Dominican, however, had other ideas. An incredulous look was etched across the face of Lomachenko’s fans as Ortiz enjoyed numerous moments of success. And while the Ukrainian would eventually eke out the win, he was heavily chastised for his performance.
All in all, Haney isn’t interested in boxing prognosticators and their disparaging words regarding Lomachenko’s age. When the final bell rings on May 20th, and Haney’s hand is raised in triumph, the 24-year-old undisputed lightweight kingpin is expecting countless flowers to be thrown at his feet.
“When I win, I want the world to give me my just due.”