Devin Haney credits former opponent Vasiliy Lomachenko for significant improvements in his boxing skills, particularly following their encounter in May 2023. Ahead of his upcoming high-profile fight against Ryan Garcia at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Haney reflected on the lessons learned from Lomachenko, a three-weight world champion, which he applied in his decisive victory over Regis Prograis in December. Haney expressed his gratitude for the experience gained, noting, “I took the experience of Loma and I added it to my experience, and just even in my last fight, you’ve seen how much better I was in that fight.”
The fight between Haney and Garcia is set to conclude with much anticipation due to Garcia’s recent erratic behavior, which culminated in Haney slapping Garcia during a media event in New York. Despite the heated build-up, Haney’s focus remains sharp, influenced by his previous bout with Lomachenko, which still stirs controversy among boxing fans. Some believe Lomachenko was unjustly denied the title of undisputed lightweight champion due to the fight’s contentious judging, which awarded Haney a unanimous decision with scores of 115-113 twice and 116-112.
Haney's performance against Lomachenko is viewed as one of his best, overshadowed by disputes over the judges’ scores but still recognized as a pivotal moment in his career. This experience has evidently prepared him for the upcoming challenge against Garcia.
Image Credit: Sky Sports