Devin Haney vs Vasyl Lomachenko Prediction: Man Can Do No More Than He Can

On May 21, Vasyl Lomachenko will try to take all the important belts. His opponent will be their owner, the current champion Devin Haney. The fight will take place in the lightweight category and consist of twelve rounds. 

Devin Haney, 24 y. o., the undefeated champion, started his way to fame in the fall of 2019, beating Zaur Abdullaev early and taking the vacant WBC belt. Last year he took the other titles in the fight with George Kambosos and defended them in the rematch. Both bouts could have been more spectacular, but Haney deserved the win. It was all about the clinches and smartly beating from a distance. Devin is known for his speed and unbelievably fast and powerful jab, which is his main weapon. He is strong, well-trained, and able to adapt - that says about his high fighting IQ.

After turning pro, two-time Olympic champion Vasyl Lomachenko has been fighting for some titles almost from the beginning. In 2019 he had three, but he sensationally lost them to Teofimo Lopez the following year. A severe shoulder injury took time to heal (we don't know whether he's alright wholly) and had an impact. In 2021 Vasyl returned to the ring and claimed wins over Masayoshi Nakatani, Richard Commey, and Jemaine Ortiz - strong fighters, but not the top ones.

The bout with Ortiz was tough; Vasyl took the initiative confidently and deservedly won. His strengths are superior boxing technique and intelligence. He raises the tempo with each round, attacking from different distances and positions. But there is a catch - his age for a lightweight is already quite decent; injuries and downtime make a difference. There are more and more questions about his stamina.

Haney's jab is always trouble for his opponents, but in his bout against Kambosos, he moves easily with long-range and regular strokes. That's why the only way for Vasyl to score points is to move a lot and get closer and closer.

Nobody's goal is a knockout; everything will be decided in the championship rounds - one with more energy left will win. It is unlikely that Lomachenko will improve in the end, although he will upset the opponent, of course. If the fight is close, the judges will likely give the local star the victory.