By Jim Calfa: Devin Haney will probably be dealing with the hardest opponent of his eight 12 months skilled profession towards former three-division world champion Vasily Lomachenko on Might twentieth, in keeping with Paulie Malignaggi.
Paulie notes that Haney has talked about preventing loads of good fighters, however he’s discovered a approach to not combat any of them. As a substitute, the most effective names on Haney’s resume are George Kambosos Jr, Jorge Linares, and Yuriorkis Gamboa.
Malignaggi says Linares and Gamboa have been each shot when Haney fought them, which implies the one notable title on his resume is Kambosos Jr, who just isn’t considered among the many greatest within the light-weight division.
If not for Lomachenko turning down the Kambosos Jr combat when he went to battle, Haney wouldn’t have gotten his alternative to win a world title.
Lomachenko doubtless would have crushed Kambosos to turn out to be the undisputed light-weight champion, and Haney would have wanted to combat him final 12 months.
For somebody who hasn’t confronted cutting-edge opposition, Haney receives loads of respect from boxing followers and the media, talked about as if he’s a confirmed fighter when in actuality, he’s nonetheless not confronted top-5 opposition.
Would Haney be the undisputed light-weight champion if he fought these fighters?
- Shakur Stevenson
- Gervonta Davis
- Ryan Garcia
- Frank Martin
- Vasily Lomachenko
- William Zepeda
- Isaac Cruz
- Jamaine Ortiz
- Gustavo Lomos
Lomachenko battles for Haney’s undisputed title
“I wouldn’t say my thoughts has modified, however I’ll say because the combat has gotten nearer and the combat has gotten delayed. I believe each benefit because the combat has gotten delayed is for Haney as a result of he’s the youthful fighter,” mentioned Paulie Malignaggi on Paulie TV in regards to the Might twentieth combat between undisputed light-weight champion Devin Haney and Vasily Lomachenko.
“Haney is a man who actually hasn’t been examined but. Once I say [Jermell] Charlo attending to the undisputed title in essentially the most tough methods in a tricky weight class the place he needed to unify towards very robust fighters, and he nonetheless has to defend towards very robust fighters.
“Haney is sort of the alternative. He had an easy route developing. His greatest opponents have been approach, well past their primes to the purpose the place you couldn’t even evaluate them after they have been of their primes when he fought them.
“He didn’t look notably nice towards them, however he beat them, after which he walked into the George Kambosos combat. Give George Kambosos credit score. He had the undisputed title, and Haney took it from him. I nonetheless haven’t seen Haney do something to attempt to get a tricky combat. He’s talked a few robust combat, however he hasn’t tried to get a tricky combat,” mentioned Malignaggi.
Haney’s hardest combat of his profession
“So that is attention-grabbing. I believe it’s the hardest combat of his profession, and it’s coming at level,” Malignaggi mentioned about Haney. “He’s going to deserve loads of credit score if he wins it, but it surely’s not a combat the place I can say Loma positively wins it.
“Loma, at this level, is somewhat older, and he’s had his largest issues at 135. However he’s preventing a man to me that has proven that he needs the robust fights,” mentioned Malignaggi about Haney.
“He’s proven me that he needs to speak in regards to the robust fights, however he doesn’t truly need them. They’re going to combat on Might twentieth, so it’ll positively be attention-grabbing. I believe that is going to be combat for all of the intangible causes. Haney is unproven, and Loma has appeared somewhat bit subpar.
“I’ll return and say that Jamaine Ortiz would most likely be the hardest combat on Haney’s file too. Jamaine Ortiz is healthier than anyone that Haney has fought. Haney hasn’t fought anyone nearly as good as Jamaine Ortiz, not to mention nearly as good as different guys that Lomachenko has crushed.
“So once more, this is the reason that is a lot up within the air. We don’t actually know who Haney is but. We all know he’s a talented fighter and fighter. We don’t understand how far he can increase his recreation but as a result of we haven’t seen him in a combat the place when your stage needs to be raised, you possibly can take it there,” Malignaggi mentioned.
Lomachenko isn’t achieved but
“I believe this combat goes to inform us somewhat extra about Haney if he can increase his recreation to somewhat bit of a better stage earlier than he goes to the 140-lb division,” mentioned Malignaggi. “Lomachenko, although it’s the best time to get Lomachenko, I don’t suppose he’s fully achieved but.
“Lomachenko has unfinished enterprise. He was imagined to get the Kambosos combat, however he turned it down for the battle. So, I really feel a chunk of him feels that the one motive Haney gained a title was due to him.
“So, I really feel he’s received that mindset the place he’s going to go get what’s his. So there are loads of intangibles on this combat. I sit up for it. I believe if Haney beats Lomachenko, that’s an excellent win. I do know you’ll have the critics saying that Loma was somewhat previous, but it surely doesn’t matter.
“Loma, even now [is better than anyone Haney has fought]. Haney fought Gamboa and Linares after they have been fully shot. You’ll be able to’t even acknowledge these wins as him beating these guys. They have been completely shot, however Lomachenko just isn’t.
“Lomachenko had a tricky combat towards Jamaine Ortiz, but it surely made me price Jamaine Ortiz larger as a result of Jamaine Ortiz confirmed me some issues in that combat that confirmed me that he’s a harmful man.
“Jamaine Ortiz already had a draw towards Joseph Adorno, and Joseph Adorno is from the North East, and I do know him and his household. That child can combat, bro, so when you have a draw with Joseph Adorno.
“Jamaine was already confirmed going into the Lomachenko combat. Teofimo is a man that takes robust fights. It’s virtually the alternative of Haney. Haney has talked about loads of robust fights, however he’s managed to flee them,” mentioned Malignaggi.
