Perhaps the last fight in the Ukrainian professional career
Early in the morning, May 21, Kyiv time, ex-world champion in three weight categories Vasily Lomachenko will hold the most important and, perhaps, the last fight of his professional career. The 35-year-old Ukrainian, who twice stopped a step away from his dream, got another chance to once again write his name in the history of boxing. True, unlike the two previous cases, this time he will not have the truth for a mistake. But it is precisely this fact that makes Lomachenko’s fight with Devin Haney the easiest in the Ukrainian pro career, despite the complexity and toughness of the opponent.
In principle, a few moments will suffice to explain the seemingly paradoxical statement. Let’s start briefly. First: Lomachenko is an underdog, which means that his possible defeat will not be a blow to his ambitions or to his boxing heritage. Second: Lomachenko has no ways to retreat, and if so, then it is this battle that he must give all his strength, literally putting everything on the line.
And now a little more. Lomachenko could have gone down in professional boxing history twice. The first, in his second fight as a pro, when he entered the championship fight against the experienced Orlando Salido. It did not work out: there were not enough skills, the ability to fight like a pro and the elementary respect of the judges.
The second time Loma missed a chance for greatness was against Teofimo Lopez, when he got the chance to become the undisputed world champion, a goal that Lomachenko has declared since his transition to the pro. It also did not work out: there was not enough optimal form, the right plan for the fight and the correct assessment of the opponent.
In both cases, Lomachenko was considered the favorite. Both failures hurt his pride, but in both situations he had room and time to maneuver. Vasily emerged from the fiasco with Salido with honor: he became the world champion in three categories, beat several bright fighters, made the world admire his technique and talk about the boxing Matrix. In the case of Lopez, things could also have turned out pretty well if not for two things: the covid pandemic and a full-scale Russian invasion. Even after beating Kommi and Nakatani, but failing to realize the opportunity of a championship fight with Kambosos, Vassily missed the time and the chance. The latter, by the way, was brilliantly used by Haney.
But now the situation is different. Lomachenko has no time. Vasily is 35, the age is borderline for light weights, and if so, then he may not have another chance to get the title of absolute world champion. Plus Haney himself, his promoters made it clear that after the fight with the Ukrainian he would move to a higher category, in any case, vacating the lightweight titles. Yes, the highly rated Lomachenko will have time to get one or even a couple of championship fights, but he won’t be able to collect all four belts.
And if so, then there is no dilemma for the Ukrainian. Victory gives him everything, even in the event of a possible, if he is registered, revenge with Haney. Defeat – deprives of all opportunities and, quite likely, will provoke a departure from boxing.
Perhaps that is why Lomachenko is really calm. Vasily had never been distinguished by outrageous behavior before, and now he is completely surprisingly phlegmatic. The weigh-in incident, when Haney pushed the Ukrainian, shows that it is the American who feels turned on and not too confident before the fight.
Devin is now in the situation that Lomachenko was in before the fights with Salido and Lopez. He is the favorite, he is considered as a future star, they make bets on him. If Haney has studied Lomachenko, then he should understand that even failure does not deprive him of the opportunity to build a bright and successful career. And the age – 24 years – allows you not to worry about your future.
But this is all speculation. If we discard them, then in the bottom line we should get a very bright and high-quality fight, full of intrigue and dramaturgy. A young and athletically hungry boxer, hungry for recognition, against an experienced but not broken veteran who got his last big chance in his career. Two incredible technical and gifted fighters from the elite of professional boxing.
Haney is quite likely one of the few boxers who is not inferior to the Ukrainian in boxing intelligence and skills (Russell was worthy, but still did not reach the level of Loma, Rigodno – he had already seriously aged at the time of the fight with Vasyl, Lopez, let’s be frank, he would have lost Lome all the following fights). Lomachenko is the most serious opponent in Haney’s career, who, to his credit, did not chase money or do business in the ring, choosing the most dangerous opponent at the moment. And this, it seems, is a sufficient reason not to miss this fight. Regardless of your attitude to each of the boxers.
Source: Sportarena
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
