Vasiliy Lomachenko planning appeal after Devin Haney defends titles in controversial circumstances
- Planet Sport writer
- 21 May 2023
Devin Haney defended his lightweight titles with a unanimous decision win over Vasiliy Lomachenko but the drama didn't end after the fight with the latter's team planning to appeal the result.
Devin Haney retained his status as undisputed lightweight champion with a unanimous decision win over Vasiliy Lomanchenko but it seemed as if the only three people in the arena that thought Haney won were the three judges.
When the result was announced at the conclusion of the fight, it was met with a raft of jeering and boos from a clearly dismayed crowd.
While both fighters were aggressive in the early rounds, Lomachenko appeared to take hold of the fight in the second half and landed some very good punches.
However, the judges saw it differently with Tim Cheatham and David Sutherland scoring the fight 115-113 and Dave Moretti making it 116-112.
"I think I showed that I can still be in boxing, I'm in good shape now," Lomachenko said. "I win this fight. Twelve rounds end, I was sure I won this fight. I feel I controlled this fight."
On the other side of the ring, Haney was a magnanimous winner - perhaps indicating that he, too, felt the bout wasn't quite as one-sided as the judges saw it.
"Lomachenko is a future Hall of Famer," Haney said. "It was a blessing. He was my toughest opponent. He was very crafty. He turns it up in the championship rounds. (This fight) put me in the history books forever."
Lomachenko's manager Egis Klimas wasted no time outlining their plans to appeal the decision and the result.
"The biggest robbery in the daylight. Haney's team got Christmas in the summer," he said.
"We're going to appeal this decision. Those judges, they do not understand how the boxers are working hard. I guarantee we're not going to let that go. We want to show there has to be justice."
If things stand, Haney's record improves to 30-0 and Lomanchenko drops to 17-3.
