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Mike Coppinger, ESPN
Devin Haney defends his undisputed lightweight championship against former unified lightweight champion Vasiliy Lomachenko in the main event at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET, with undercards on ESPN at 8 p.m. ET and early prelims at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+).
Haney (29-0, 15 KOs), 24, who unified all four major belts with a victory over George Kambosos Jr. in June 2022, has made one defense already, a decision win over Kambosos in the rematch four months later. Haney, one of the best fighters under the age of 25 and currently No. 10 in ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings, is the favorite according to Caesars Sportsbook (-280).
“I have been calling for this fight for four years,” Haney said during the final news conference on Wednesday. “But the time has finally come. I take my hat off to him. I respect everything that he’s done. I respect his decision to stay and defend his country. That gave me my shot to go to Australia, so it was only right that I give him the shot as well.”
Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs), 35, who has won three consecutive fights since losing the IBF, WBO, and WBA lightweight titles to Teofimo Lopez Jr. in October 2020, said he’s ready for the opportunity.
“Camp was hard like always…,” Lomachenko said. “It was motivating because I understand — it is my last chance to become undisputed. So, I pushed myself in every training session.”
Follow along as Mike Coppinger recaps all the action from Las Vegas or watch the fights live on ESPN+ PPV.