Former light welterweight champion Chris Algieri has stepped in to defend Devin Haney’s contentious win over Vasyl Lomachenko last Saturday. Despite many fans deeming the fight a “robbery”, Algieri argues that the contest was so closely fought that it could have swung either way. He credits Haney’s superior body punching and powerful hits as key factors that contributed to his victory.
Haney’s impressive size over Lomachenko was a talking point, with speculation suggesting that Haney’s rehydrated weight hovered around 155 - unusually large for a lightweight - whereas Lomachenko appeared no bigger than 138. Algieri expressed that Lomachenko’s tactical error was waiting too long before ramping up his offense, which led to him losing the first eight rounds.
Algieri spoke to Inside Boxing Live about the match, insisting the controversy of a “robbery” was overblown considering the fight’s close-knit nature. He commended Haney’s consistent, powerful body shots which, he believes, were instrumental in Haney’s win. Dan Canobbio echoed Algieri’s sentiments, labeling the bout as a “modern classic”, attributing Haney’s triumph to his strong body punching.
Despite his win, Haney may not receive full credit due to the controversy surrounding the match, a sentiment shared by both Algieri and Canobbio. Regardless, Algieri noted that Haney is now in history books for defeating a Hall of Famer like Lomachenko, and emphasized that Haney’s financial and title gains are undeniable.
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