Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko: Keys to victory for both fighters

Devin Haney meets Vasiliy Lomaechnko this weekend and it’s a fight that can provide a defining moment for the winner's eventual legacy.

Here, DAZN looks at strategies for both fighters ahead of what promises to be an incredible undisputed battle. 

Lomachenko used to have one of the best engines in the sport but now he is in his mid-30s, and with a couple of middling performances behind him since his disappointing defeat to Teofimo Lopez Jr., it would be fair to put his stamina to the test.

The much younger man, Haney, has the chance to start quickly and force Loma to keep up with him, leaving the Ukrainian open in the championship rounds if he is unable to keep up with the American.

Don't be complacent

Haney is rightfully the favourite in this match-up. He is the incumbent, he is unbeaten, and his sterling efforts against George Kambosos Jr. showed a fighter with few serious weaknesses.

Of course, no boxer is perfect, and his experienced opponent may have seen chinks in the armour that less adept opponents have. With Haney very possibly looking to leave the division after this fight, and as Lomachenko has several reasons to leave it all in the ring in Las Vegas, Haney cannot afford to look past his rival tonight.

Let Lomachenko come to him

Haney is not a defensive fighter, but he performs at his best when he takes his time. The pressure to win tonight is on Lomachenko, because he has to prove his talents all over again. For Haney, he has to just keep up with the older man and let his talent eventually take over.

If he can get Lomachenko get flustered or desperate, chances will present themselves.

With exceptional footwork, technique and durability, Lomachenko could both dance around his opponents and hurt them, too. Against Haney, he faces someone with similar technical brilliance, but that doesn't mean he needs to go the other way.

If Lomachenko tries a heavy-handed display he could quickly be put away by the younger man, who could start quickly and accelerate away. Better to hope that the older version of his classic performances is good enough, than risk it all on something new.

For Lomachenko, there is every chance that emotions could get the better of him on Saturday night. Yes, he's a former champion, and yes, at times in the past he has been one of the pound-for-pound best fighters in the world, but a lot has happened in the past few years.

It is obvious that he could feel the strain. This is a chance to become undisputed with a single victory, after years of being regarded simply as unified because of his WBC 'Franchise' belt. He lost to Teofimo Lopez Jr. during the coronavirus pandemic and has never seemed to be the same since. 

Well into his thirties now, he must doubt whether he will ever get back to his best, and he also has to deal with the pressure of representing Ukraine at a time when his homeland is under attack from Russia, something that forced him back home to take up arms.

Any of those things could be too much for one man to cope with, Lomachenko has to deal with them all while fighting the division's top dog. He cannot allow himself to be overwhelmed.

Haney is the best fighter in the division when it comes to recent achievements. Back-to-back victories over George Kambosos Jr., both times in Australia, demand respect, but there is still a chance for Lomachenko here.

At 35, he has many more years in the ring compared to his opponent, and he can use all his nous and gamesmanship to get an edge when he may be outmatched physically. If he is to succeed against Haney, he may have to fight with every trick he has.