Haney: Is Lomachenko a great master? For Arum, but not for me”

Absolute lightweight champion American Devin Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) knows and remembers the special attitude of promoter Bob Arum (Top Rank) to the ex-leader of the division Ukrainian Vasily Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs), but does not worry about this.

Arum plans to do a Haney vs. Lomachenko fight in the first half of next year.

“My career has completely changed this year,”
recalls champion. — Last year at the same time, I was the “champion-by-mail”. And now I’m absolute. Lomachenko? It’s really smaller than I imagined. But it has been said about him before that he is not a real lightweight. I assume that it is so. But you need to remember that he has been competing in this weight for a long time, so he fully adapted to the division, became the champion here. I don’t even remember who he had his debut fight with here… Luke Campbell…?

Lomachenko actually debuted at 61.2 kg in May 2018 – took the title WBA Super Jorge Linaresthen beat in unification WBO champion Jose Pedraço. The fight with Campbell is the fourth fight of the Ukrainian in the division, in which he won the vacant WBC belt.

“I don’t listen to all this talk about how small he is, that this is not his weight,” Haney says. – This is for Arum Lomachenko – a great master. But not for me. I think he is an ordinary person. Exactly the same fighter as me. And I will prove that he is no great master. When and where will the fight take place? I think that I, as a champion, should have a decisive right to vote. But I gave it up just so that the fight would finally take place. It turns out that this is the second time I’m following him. Although not required to do so. But this happens in boxing. That’s how promoters and TV networks work.”

Haney is confident: “I will win regardless of when the fight takes place: in March or in May. Doesn’t matter. I’ll be ready. Yes, I asked for a fight before Ramadan, but if they want to fight in May, then let it be May … “

In the same interview, Haney told where exactly the fight with Lomachenko will take place. Do you know why Devin was hurt by Arum’s words? Boss Top Rank stated that “Haney will be in the ring with the master”.