LAS VEGAS – Vasiliy Lomachenko and his team have already accepted the reality that Devin Haney won’t grant him a rematch.
Lomachenko expects Haney, who beat Lomachenko by unanimous decision in their 12-round fight Saturday night, to move up the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds for his next fight. Ukraine’s Lomachenko has long been considered a small lightweight and wouldn’t consider moving up five more pounds for a second shot at Haney, especially because Haney would be a less appealing opponent for Lomachenko without his four lightweight titles.
“I think it was the last fight [for] Haney at 135,” Lomachenko said during his post-fight press conference. “I think so.”
Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) and Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs) didn’t have a rematch clause in their contracts, not even one that would’ve protected Haney, who successfully defended his IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 135-pound championships by out-pointing Lomachenko at MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Bill Haney, Devin’s father and manager, dismissed the need for a rematch during a post-fight interview with Top Rank’s Crystina Poncher in their locker room soon after his son’s win.
Egis Klimas, Lomachenko’s manager, contended that Lomachenko was “robbed” by the judges. Klimas plans to file an official protest with the Nevada State Athletic Commission regarding the scoring of a very competitive, fan-friendly fight that Haney won on the cards of Tim Cheatham (115-113), Dave Moretti (116-112) and David Sutherland (115-113).
Klimas admitted that a protest probably won’t lead to a change of the official result. He also is resigned to Lomachenko not getting another opportunity to challenge Haney for his four titles.
“Look, first of all,” Klimas said, “they’re not gonna give us a rematch.”
Haney became a promotional free agent after defeating Lomachenko in their ESPN Pay-Per-View main event. Lomachenko remains under contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc., which co-promoted each of Haney’s past three fights along with DiBella Entertainment.
Ukraine’s Lomachenko proved versus Haney that he can still compete at an elite level, even though the three-division champion is 35 years old. Lomachenko could fight for a vacant lightweight title when he returns to the ring later this year if Haney vacates his championships to compete in the 140-pound division.
The 24-year-old Haney acknowledged after defeating Lomachenko that he might move up for his next bout because it has become increasingly difficult for the Henderson, Nevada resident to squeeze his 5-foot-8 frame down to the lightweight limit.
Regardless, Lomachenko will have various options for his next bout because Top Rank promotes plenty of lightweight contenders. Klimas didn’t have the desire to consider potential opponents for Lomachenko’s next fight in the immediate aftermath of such a devastating defeat.
“I don’t know,” Klimas said. “Right now, you’re asking a question like what you’re gonna do. But we have to see. We have to talk to [our] promoter. We have to see what is available and we will see.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.