Vasily Lomachenko is poised to test Devin Haney’s skills in their highly-anticipated fight on May 20th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, airing on ESPN pay-per-view. Boxing analyst Paulie Malignaggi believes Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) will capitalize on his swift footwork to land powerful shots against the undisputed lightweight champion Haney (29-0, 15 KOs). While Malignaggi acknowledges Haney’s ability to control range, he questions whether this skill will hold up against the lightning-fast Lomachenko.
Malignaggi points out that Haney has not yet faced truly challenging opposition, as he has mostly fought aging fighters past their prime. He contrasts Haney’s bouts with fighters like Jorge Linares and Gamboa to Lomachenko’s impressive unification bout against Teofimo Lopez, suggesting that Haney’s claims of being ducked by Lomachenko are unfounded. Malignaggi further argues that Haney only secured his undisputed champion status due to Lomachenko’s involvement in the war, which led to Haney facing Kambosos instead.
In Malignaggi’s view, Haney’s lack of punching power could be a significant disadvantage in the upcoming showdown against Lomachenko. He asserts that although Haney may be physically larger, his fighting style is not particularly physical. Lomachenko, known for his deceptive and powerful right hand, will likely pose a challenge to Haney, who has yet to consistently demonstrate similar strength in his punches.
As the fight approaches, Malignaggi is eager to see how Haney performs when pushed to his limits by Lomachenko’s quick-footedness and experience. While Haney’s jab and range control have served him well against slower opponents like Kambosos, Malignaggi predicts that Lomachenko’s agility and power could present a formidable challenge. The May 20th bout promises to be an electrifying event that could potentially redefine both fighters’ careers in the boxing world.
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