Hulu Theater: Madison Square Garden
When looking across the landscape at boxing’s lightweight division, there are changes coming. Maybe in drips and drabs and not one giant tsunami though. It was looked at like a new renaissance at 135, but the moves have already started. So is it time for it’s undisputed champion to join the flow. Or does Devin Haney actually fight one of his last mountains at 135?
And that possible mountain is a lock future Hall Of Famer in Vasiliy Lomachenko. Did “Loma” show any signs he was on his last legs against the 26-year old Jarmaine Ortiz? No not really. Surprisingly at 322-days away he didn’t show any glaring signs of ring rust. But “The Technician” did have a good game plan. He was just a bit too inexperienced to see it through. One that has more tools, more time may finish the job.
Are boxing fans jumping out of their skin to see Haney-Loma? It’s not the first thing on their Christmas wish list, but it would be one hell of a scrap. As long as it doesn’t go the way of Spence–Crawford, or so many others. Let’s remember Haney and Teofimo Lopez swore they were gonna mix things up for the belts at 135 too.
Does Haney Actually Fight Loma… Probably Not
Lomachenko might be willing to concede to certain demands for the one thing he wants (undisputed), but he won’t be walked over in negotiations either. And Haney and his father can be tough to deal with at the table.
And if he didn’t already think he could beat him already, the things Ortiz showed might give him even more confidence.
But Team Loma is one of the best ever in breaking down opponents. Haney is more technical, and defensive minded than Ortiz. But what Loma won’t have to concern himself with in a fight, is his opponent switching to southpaw a lot.
So if he’s successful getting the angles, he could break the champion down. That’s how he gets his knockouts. Slowly breaking someone down, and the punches in bunches added in. Without the thunderous one-punch power; Haney might be willing to fight on the inside. Especially with Loma needing to be in the phone booth to land that left, and his uppercuts. There Haney will need to jab Loma’s face off.
Or what most likely happens is the talks go sideways (as usually happens), Haney gets frustrated, decides to drop the straps, and head to 140. He is a really big lightweight anyways, so a little less depletion isn’t a bad thing. But for all the heat he takes being called “boring” his tools may be better placed at super lightweight. Only downside is he’d deal with a lot more power up there.
Targets At 140
Using range well, he’d need to outbox everyone all the time. One tiny mistake and Haney will sleep. And he’ll need to have earplugs when people say he’s just running around the ring. His old friend Lopez is there, so who knows; maybe we get that fight finally. There already is some smoke with Gary Antuanne Russell. Right now he can take out Sergey Lipinets and Jose Pedraza, and probably outlasts Richard Commey on the cards.
However, should the Loma fight be his last dance at 135, he’ll no doubt play the heel. And Haney will need to bring his cardio to a level greater than it’s ever been. Loma starts slow, so he might need a couple of 10-8 rounds for some extra cushion. Lomachenko will make reads on him, and in-fight adjustments will be made by the middle rounds. That’s where Haney loses the fight, between the ears.
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