Lomachenko Labeled Underdog Despite Impressive Record and Olympic Gold Medals
Vasiliy Lomachenko holds two Olympic gold medals and was the fastest male boxer to win three world titles in three different division, yet Lomachenko is sizable underdog as of now as he preps to face the undisputed four-belt lightweight world champion Devin Haney, on May 20th, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. According to Betonline.AG Lomachenko is currently at +210, whereas Devin Haney is nearly a three-to-one favorite sitting at +270.
A former enemy of Lomachenko, the man who built his name of defeating Lomachenko in 2020 - is now one of Lomachenko’s biggest supporters. Lopez, when asked prior to his fight with Pedro Campa in the fall, said to EsNews the following as to why he favors Lomachenko.
“Yeah, I knew it, I know how this business goes - Lomachenko [beats Devin Haney],” stated the former undisputed lightweight world champion Teofimo Lopez to ESNews. “Why? Because they’re not Teofimo [Lopez].”
Lopez, who lost his undisputed world titles unceremoniously to George Kambosos Jnr in New York in the fall of 2021, had a year from hell. From outside of the ring drama to a failed relationship with Triller, who Lopez put a lot of faith into, all the way into Triller defaulting on the IBF purse and DAZN/Matchroom putting on the show. Lopez has fought twice since the night that derailed a bit of his momentum, as he next clashes with Josh Taylor for the WBO welterweight world title, which is on June 10th, in Madison Square Garden, in New York City, New York.
“Nobody beats lomachenko, and I mean, nobody,” further explained Lopez to EsNews. “I've been in the ring with the man. He's smart. He has so many different tactics that I never even thought [was] possible, and I absorbed it. I mean, I picked it up right away. I started adapting.”
Lopez Backs Lomachenko to Beat Haney and Dominate Lightweight Division
Lopez also believes that Lomachenko isn’t just the favorite against Devin Haney, but goes out to say that, that Lomachenko is too much for all the young fighters at lightweight vying for Lomachenko’s spot. The way Lopez sees it, he had to adapt in the moment, and didn’t feel fully prepared for what was at coming at home on fight night.
“In that fight, you can see that we both [move at] the same time,” reflected Lopez on his legendary night against Vasiliy Lomachenko. "It just started that we were [both] in sync [in that fight], and I think that just catching a lot of things that [Lomachenko] has. He has dirty tactics, he has clean tactics overall he has the experience and I don't think any of them are ready for them.”
