LAS VEGAS – Devin Haney’s hard shove on stage Friday afternoon convinced Vasiliy Lomachenko that he has the undefeated, undisputed lightweight champion right where he wants him.
“Now he’s mine,” Lomachenko told ESPN’s Mark Kriegel immediately after the incident. “He don’t have the power.”
Haney uncharacteristically lost his composure after their ceremonial weigh-in at MGM Grand Garden Arena and pushed Lomachenko with two hands to his opponent’s chest. Lomachenko seemed to simply stare at Haney during their faceoff and didn’t say anything to antagonize Haney.
The taller, younger champion surprisingly pushed him, which Lomachenko took to mean that Haney is very nervous as their ESPN Pay-Per-View main event nears.
“Because he’s scared,” Lomachenko said. “He’s scared. Because I see right now. I see right now and a hundred percent [he’s scared].”
ESPN’s Joe Tessitore announced during the network’s telecast of the ceremonial weigh-in that the Nevada State Athletic Commission will fine Haney for putting his hands on Lomachenko.
The 24-year-old Haney, whose maturity and professionalism have previously served him well in similar situations, admitted during his interview with ESPN’s Bernardo Osuna that he let his emotions get the best of him.
“The time has finally come,” Haney said. “It’s been a long time coming. It’s been four years. I’ve always dreamed of, you know, facing off with him and the emotions set in now that it’s finally time.”
Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) is listed at MGM Grand’s sportsbook as more than a 2-1 favorite to beat Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs). While Haney’s back-to-back points wins against Australia’s George Kambosos Jr. (20-2, 10 KOs) made him boxing’s fully unified lightweight champion, Haney realizes Lomachenko is commonly considered the best opponent of his seven-year professional career.
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