LEADING LIGHTS

Ahead of their big lightweight title fight this weekend, here are the standout moments in the careers of Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko

1 LOMACHENKO VS GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX

In this 2017 battle between arguably the two finest pure technicians of the modern era Lomachenko came out on top because he was simply too big for the diminutive Rigondeaux, who pulled out after six.

2 HANEY VS GEORGE KAMBOSOS JNR 1

While not the most exciting fight in lightweight history, the clinic Haney produced against Kambosos in June 2022 was impressive given he was both fighting in Australia and fighting a man, in Kambosos, who had just upset Teofimo Lopez.

3 LOMACHENKO VS JORGE LINARES

One of the best fights of Lomachenko’s career, this 2018 brawl with Linares saw two well-schooled fighters throw in just enough drama to make things interesting. Ultimately, though, after being dropped himself in round six, Lomachenko took Linares out in the 10th.

4 LOMACHENKO VS GARY RUSSELL JNR

The fact Lomachenko outpointed Russell Jnr in just his third fight says everything about the prodigious Ukrainian.

5 HANEY VS GEORGE KAMBOSOS JNR II

As predictable as it was pointless, Haney did at least prove fight number one was no fluke by returning to Australia and beating Kambosos all over again.

6 LOMACHENKO VS NICHOLAS WALTERS

Though losing to Lomachenko effectively led to his retirement, Walters, before that night in 2016, was a feared destroyer of the featherweight division, having stayed unbeaten in 27 fights.

7 HANEY VS JOSEPH DIAZ

Diaz, a former IBF belt-holder at super-featherweight, met Haney at lightweight in 2021, with the WBC belt at stake, and found himself on the receiving end of a unanimous decision.

8 HANEY VS JORGE LINARES

Too old by the time they crossed paths, and certainly not the same fighter who faced Lomachenko three years prior, Linares’ 2021 loss to Haney – by decision – was the beginning of the end for the classy Venezuelan.

9 LOMACHENKO VS LUKE CAMPBELL

Lomachenko’s 2019 decision win over Campbell was the first and so far only time he has appeared in the UK and what a privilege it was to see him perform.

10 HANEY VS YURIORKIS GAMBOA

This was far from vintage Gamboa, particularly given he had just been stopped by Gervonta Davis, yet Haney still had to get the job done when he clashed with the Cuban in 2021. That he did, too, winning widely on the cards after 12 rounds.