Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko: B/R Staff Predictions

Will we see the confirmation of Devin Haney as the undisputed lightweight king or will Vasiliy Lomachenko return to prominence?

That will be decided in Las Vegas this Saturday as Haney puts his WBA, WBO, IBF and The Ring lightweight titles on the line against the former lightweight champion Lomachenko. Undefeated with a 29-0 record, the 24-year-old Haney is looking for a signature win over an established name to slingshot himself into superstardom.

The B/R Combat Sports Team got together to figure out who is going home with the gold Saturday night.

Disagree with our experts? Share your thoughts in the comments section of the B/R app.

Haney Too Good for Loma

This is not to take anything away from Lomachenko. But as of this moment, Haney is a better fighter.

Let me make this very clear: Lomachenko is a savant in the ring and probably deserved to be more well-known across the combat sports landscape. His footwork and the angles he works to get opportunities to punish opponents in should be studied by young fighters who want to get ahead in the fight game.

But this is Haney's time to shine. And a win over Lomachenko cements Haney as the next upcoming star along with potential future opponent Gervonta Davis.

After sharpening his boxing skills in Mexico, he's channeled those abilities into 29 wins and zero defeats. He might be over a decade younger than his 35-year-old opponent, but make no mistake about it: Haney has a vast amount of experience and can box with the best of them.

Both men aren't considered huge knockout artists, so expect a technical fight that will be one for the purists. The pick: The younger boxer takes it.

Prediction: Haney by unanimous decision

- Lucky Ngamwajasat

Age, Haney Too Much for Loma

Kelly Defina/Getty Images

Will Haney leave with all the belts?

For a time, it looked like Lomachenko was an all-timer.

He vied for a title in his second fight, won one in his third bout and displayed a mastery of the sport's subtleties that few this side of Willie Pep ever have.

But the heavier and older he got, the less special he became.

Oh sure, he still had enough talent to beat nearly anyone, but the rigors of naturally fighting bigger and stronger men as he aged gradually narrowed the gap.

Teofimo Lopez fought the best fight of his life to topple him in 2020, and though he's won three straight since, it's been as much on muscle memory as virtuosity.

And while no one's likely to chisel Haney's name on a lightweight Mount Rushmore any time soon, he, too, is bigger and stronger while also being a pretty good fighter in his own right.

A pound-for-pound match at their peak ages and weights yields a Lomachenko win by a large margin, but in a match of 24 vs. 35 where the younger man has all the physical advantages, it's not such a positive equation for the Ukrainian.

Expect more tactical and tedious than violent and venomous, and few conceivable endings other than Haney winning big on the scorecards.

Prediction: Haney by unanimous decision

- Lyle Fitzsimmons

Lomachenko Gets It Done in an Upset

AP Photo/John Locher, File

FILE -Vasiliy Lomachenko, of Ukraine, celebrates after defeating Masayoshi Nakatani, of Japan, by technical knockout during a lightweight bout Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Las Vegas. When Ukraine was invaded, the only fight Vasiliy Lomachenko would consider was the one for his home. Boxing plans were put on hold, even though they appeared set to include a title match. Lomachenko calls being undisputed champion his dream, but his country's war with Russia is real life. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

This fight is not for the casual boxing fan.

The casuals will say this is "boring." The purists will appreciate the mastery of both fighters. The casuals want fireworks, while the purists appreciate the respect both fighters have shown each other. On one side, we have the undefeated, fully unified lightweight champion Haney (29-0, 15 KOs), and on the other side, we have legendary Ukrainian southpaw Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs).

Ignore any talk that Loma is too old. At 35, he is a year younger than Floyd Mayweather Jr. was when he faced Canelo Alvarez, so age is no excuse.

There is a good reason the 24-year-old Haney is a slight favorite (-270 on DraftKings). "The Dream" is taller, stronger and the most versatile opponent Loma has ever faced. And don't get us wrong: Haney's ring IQ, elite defense and jab will make it difficult for the Ukrainian.

We've seen Loma struggle against a lesser fighter with similar height/weight measurements in Jamaine Ortiz. Because of this, Loma understands why he's the underdog.

Still, this is also Haney's most challenging opponent. Lomachenko is no George Kambosos Jr. He is a three-division champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist. Haney very well may be the future of boxing; will that be in the lightweight division? It's well-known that he'll move up to 140 pounds soon. Will he have enough power in his punches Saturday?

Conventional wisdom says Haney will send Lomachenko into retirement; however, this is a legacy fight, and I expect Loma to shock the boxing world. He will be the first man to defeat Haney in a professional contest and become the new WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF lightweight champion.

Prediction: Lomachenko by unanimous decision

- Douglas A. Brown