Tunde Ajay expects the controversy surrounding Devin Haney’s victory over Vasyl Lomachenko to lead to a rematch.
The 24-year-old Haney defended his undisputed lightweight title in a highly competitive fight at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand when awarded a unanimous decision on an occasion the majority of observers believe Lomachenko won.
Victory over the great Lomachenko, 35, represented the most significant of his career – even those who believe he lost will recognise the extent to which he impressed – but at a time when there are more lucrative fights against Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson that he could target, and with Lomachenko’s team planning to make an appeal to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Ajay believes that a rematch will be next.
The trainer has long been close to the Haney family, and attended the fight with Anthony Yarde to support the lightweight champion having been invited by his father, trainer and manager Bill. He therefore recognises the extent to which Devin Haney models himself on Floyd Mayweather – there are times his mannerisms are close to identical – and believes that like when Mayweather had his rematch with Jose Luis Castillo following the controversy of their first fight in 2002, Lomachenko will be next.
“I really do believe Dev will give him a rematch,” he told ProBox TV. “If you look at the Castillo fight – to this day people say Floyd Mayweather lost that fight. They were so adamant Floyd lost, and what did Floyd do? He said, ‘Alright, I’m gonna give people what they want. I’m going to go back and fight him again’.
“I can see the similarities in this young man’s career – so much so that I can see a rematch with Lomachenko and him doing a better number. He’s got the knowledge [of Lomachenko] – all the information has been downloaded. He knows what Loma can do. It’s great to make adjustments when you win a fight – you’ve already got his number mentally.
“Loma [would be] a few months older, and Devin’s still young. I had it two rounds [in Haney’s favour] – the body work. It wasn’t Loma winning on any of the scorecards. He lost on every single scorecard. That’s unanimous.
Ajay met the Haneys during London 2012, when they travelled with Michael Hunter and when the 12-year-old Devin impressed when sparring a grown man.
“Bill came over; he was looking after Michael Hunter at the time, so he came over for the 2012 Olympics with Dev,” he continued. “Dev was 12 years old. They came to the gym – I didn’t know who he was – and I had a young Junior Benjamin and a few other amateur fighters. Dev got in, 12 years old, his dad said, ‘Can he spar?’. So we put him in with a 25 year old man and he dominated him. ‘Nah, this doesn’t make sense. Daniel – how you make this young buy touch you up like that?’.
“Then Junior got in and showed Dev levels, but Dev was 12 years old and I remember Bill saying, ‘See? This is the level you’ve gotta [be at]’. Even at that point Bill was always challenging Dev mentally. I was training Dev, taking him on the pads. We came to Las Vegas on the invitation of Bill – I took Ohara Davies, Junior Benjamin and Anthony Yarde, and we lived in Bill’s house.
“It’s been a wonderful relationship we’ve had. He gives me advice; I give him advice. I’ve always admired the risks they’ve been willing to take. I’ve learned a lot from Bill.”
Follow this link, If you want to read our analysis on the Lomachenko vs Haney Fight 🥊
