Egis Klimas, the manager of three division titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko, is keeping a realistic attitude toward the idea of getting a rematch with Devin Haney.
In a recent interview, Klimas said he is working to get his ace client another shot at Haney, who successfully defended his four 135-pound belts over Lomachenko with a unanimous decision. But Klimas added that they are unlikely to get what they want.
The boxing world appeared to be divided when all three judges’ scorecards were announced in favor of Las Vegas-based Haney (30-0, 15 KOs), with many insisting that Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) deserved to win in what was a thoroughly competitive contest. In any case, Haney has intimated that he is looking to leave the lightweight division as soon as his next fight. His name has been floated in connection with titlists at 140, including Teofimo Lopez (WBO) and Regis Prograis (WBC).
“Do we want to get a rematch? Of course we do,” Klimas told Boxing News. “Are we going to get it? Most likely not. Because Haney already knows who he fought. Did Vasiliy win that fight? Yes he did, 100%. But unfortunately, the judges—I can’t say corrupt—but they see a different [fight] than what we saw. Everybody knows who won that fight. Everybody knows that Loma won that fight. Is [Haney] gonna give him a rematch? I don’t believe.”
When asked if Shakur Stevenson, the two-division titlist who made his lightweight debut earlier this year, would be of any interest for Lomachenko, Klimas demurred. Both Stevenson and Lomachenko are promoted by Top Rank; Haney was promoted by Top Rank but became a free agent after the fight with Lomachenko.
Stevenson (20-0, 10 KOs) recently reached out to Lomachenko recently on social media about fighting but Lomachenko responded by insisting that his priority is to get a rematch with Haney. Klimas reiterated his charge’s point.
“Right now we’re looking at possibilities of getting rematch [with Haney],” Klimas said. “As Loma said, he has some unfinished business to do in that weight class.”
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.