I’ve watched Devin Haney-Vasily Lomachenko back three times, and every time I’ve scored for Vasily. It’s time for commissions and sanctioning bodies to change the way that fights are scored.
Even the 12th round – the only reason observers didn’t score the 12th for him was because it wasn’t as strong as 10 and 11 – you could argue he won. Every time, I’ve scored either eight rounds to four or seven to five for Vasily – I can’t find seven rounds to give to Haney.
On fight night in Las Vegas, when the first scorecard of 116-112 was announced, I started to feel comfortable that Vasily was going to get the decision. Then 115-113. “We’re gonna get this.” I was wrong.
I’m still hurt for him. He’s suffered. He’s been so unprotected. When he lost to Orlando Salido the referee Laurence Cole did a horrific job in letting Salido get away with fouls all fight. When he fought Teofimo Lopez he did so without a rematch clause. When I watched the Haney fight again I saw so much more of Vasily’s subtleties – and I don’t believe that the three ringside judges saw that – and the referee Harvey Dock, who did a great job as the third man was very fast to break them up, even when Vasily had a hand free. It was Haney doing the majority of the grabbing on the inside. I saw a fight Vasily fought to win, and Haney fought not to lose.
It’s said, “We frown on 10-10 rounds”, but anybody who fights knows that you can have an even round. There are also rounds when both fighters stay on their feet that should be scored 10-8, or when a fighter suffers a knockdown that should be scored 10-9. It doesn’t make sense to give a fighter the same score for an unconvincing knockdown as when he or she is almost decapitated.
It’d be very helpful if it could be explained, before a fight, how it is going to be scored – and for 10-10 rounds not to be almost forbidden. A meeting like that should even happen with the fighters present. “If we don’t see a clear winner we’re not just going to give you rounds for nothing.” There are always at least one or two even rounds in a fight, when no one deserve the one-point advantage that could be the deciding point after the final bell.
In addition to the three ringside judges there could also be another panel of other judges sat elsewhere scoring the same fight. If the three at ringside and the judging panel all go the same way, it’s pretty hard to object, but if the judging panel goes against what the three ringside judges have scored there’s a problem.
If the commissions and sanctioning bodies really believe that using only three ringside judges is the correct way to score a fight then they need to start re-screening the judges they’re using, holding them accountable, and keeping a record of every time they’ve gone wrong.
Glenn Feldman scored for Anthony Joshua the night of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, and didn’t have the conviction to stand by his scorecard. If he saw it that way he should have had the guts to say so. “I’m not allowed to talk about it – ask my supervisor.” The supervisors don’t judge the fight. The judges do. The immunity judges are given – which trainers and boxers don’t have – is wrong.
Trainers have two inspectors in their corner watching them just in case they put too much vaseline on – since when has vaseline ever been the determining factor in any fight? There are two inspectors watching that – who’s watching the judges who are determining the futures of the two fighters in the ring?
Everyone’s seen the images of how upset Vasily was in his changing room, post-fight – he was really hurt this time. It wasn’t the decision that hurt him; it was because he was fighting for his son. For Haney to use that against him on social media – I don’t get it.
I’ve spoken to him since we both left Vegas, because he called me. “Guess what I’m doing,” he said. “You’re cooking food.” “No. You’re always thinking about food.” He laughed! He was preparing all of his equipment to go fishing in Minnesota.
Vasily doesn’t get enough credit for his career. His record of 16 of 20 fights being for world titles might never be beaten.
Russ Anber is the founder/CEO of Rival Boxing, as well as a highly respected trainer (of both pros and amateurs), a gym owner, a cut-man, an entrepreneur, a broadcaster and one of the best hand wrappers in the boxing business. Vasiliy Lomachenko, Oleksandr Usyk, Artur Beterbiev and Callum Smith are among the many top boxers Russ works with.
