Devin Haney is the still the undisputed lightweight boxing world champion after he claimed a controversial win via unanimous decision over Vasiliy Lomachenko on Sunday (AEST).
Haney was the favourite going into the fight but faced arguably the toughest test of his career against a determined Lomachenko, who threw everything against the champion.
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Lomachenko put up one hell of a performance, putting Haney on the back foot with countless jabs.
But every time it seemed the Ukrainian was getting the upper hand, Haney responded with a punch of his own as he elected to go for body shots.
It appeared Lomachenko might have been headed for a shock victory or a hardfought draw when he landed blows to Haney’s head in the later rounds, but Haney somehow lifted to another gear in the final round.
The consensus was Lomachenko was the more active fighter, but all three judges scored the fight narrowly in Haney’s favour (116-112, 115-113 x 2).
Haney is American but the Las Vegas crowd chanted “Loma” throughout the fight and loudly booed Haney when his hand was raised.
Boxing fans couldn’t believe the result — particularly the 116-112 scorecard — arguing Lomachenko had been robbed of the win.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith tweeted: “That’s a bullsh*t decision. Haney may have won but it was barely. There should not have been a 116-112 score or a 115-113 call. It was that close.”
Boxing analyst Josh Thomson said: “This is why people don’t watch boxing anymore. Building the young guy over the guy who actually won. #boxingisdead”
Asked in the ring post-fight if he felt he’d been robbed, the 35-year-old said: “I don’t want to talk about this. All people saw what happened here today.”
But Lomachenko later broke down in his changeroom as he realised how close he came to becoming undisputed champion.
Haney didn’t appear confident after the 12th round ended, but said the win over Lomachenko “put me in the history books forever”.
“I just beat a future Hall of Famer,” he said. “It’s means everything to me and my team.”
Shakur Stevenson, seen as a potential next opponent for Haney, called out the champion and said Lomachenko should have won the fight.
“Lomachenko should be the undisputed champion. He won. He won that fight,” Stevenson said.
“Let’s make it happen, I think that should happen next. Devin’s not on my level and I’mma show it.”
Haney is now 30-0 and retains his World Boxing Association, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organisation belts.