LAS VEGAS — He's been around for so long that it's easy to forget that Devin Haney is still a young boxer. He's 24, an age where a lot of boxers are being coddled, developed and spoon fed opponents.
Haney still retains that babyface, but he's the undisputed lightweight champion with a goal of becoming pound-for-pound No. 1. It's a spot that for several years was occupied by Vasiliy Lomachenko, who himself was a wunderkind when he turned professional in 2012.
"He was Number 1 pound-for-pound and I'm going to get there eventually," said Haney, who is ranked seventh on the Yahoo ratings of the world's best fighters."I got into this business to be the best and to do that, you have to fight the best. I have been trying to fight him for a long time and now this is my opportunity."and remain unbeaten, with Lomachenko coming back at +230.
Haney still has room for growth, and he shrugs off the notion that Lomachenko is in decline. Age is kind of a sore spot with son on the 35-year-old Lomachenko's team. He's been brilliant from Day 1 of his professional career and has overcome several major surgeries to remain an elite fighter in the sport.
"We'll see [Saturday] if it was ring rust, if it was just that he's lost a step. I don't know. I know he's an excellent fighter and he's done a lot in this sport. But I think I'm better and I want to prove it."
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