While boxing’s heavyweights are doing more talking than they are punching at the moment, the sport’s lighter divisions continue to serve up fantastic fights. Yet another clash of the titans is billed for this weekend with America’s Devin Haney taking on Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko for the undisputed lightweight titles.
At times in boxing, a clash between two similarly matched boxers is great to watch. But every now and then, a fight like this one comes along with a whole new level of intrigue. Haney is big, young, and fighting in front of a home crowd; Lomachenko is smaller with more experience and a challenging stance.
Throw all of this in, mix it up, and we have an excellent match-up on our hands at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas this weekend. We break down all the best bets to place on this lightweight clash with odds from bookmaker William Hill ahead of the first bell on Saturday night.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 19th, 2:00 A.M. (GMT)
Earlier this week the outright winner odds were closer between Haney and Lomachenko, but in recent days they’ve widened slightly. Bookmaker William Hill has Devin Haney the 1.36 favourite ahead of Vasyl Lomachenko’s 3.25. The most likely outcome by far is a Haney decision at 1.61 with Lomachenko winning on points coming in second at 4.33. Both are paying long odds for a knockout, at 7.00 and 8.00.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 19th, 2:00 A.M. (GMT)
Devin Haney should win this bout. He’s younger by more than a decade, the current champion, fighting at home, and undefeated. He has a lot going for him. Oh, and he’s bigger—lightweight is really a squeeze down for him. He could easily be fighting up a division right now.
However, the return on Lomachenko makes it tempting to consider a bet on the Ukrainian. Lomachenko is a former champion himself and by far the toughest man to step into the ring with Haney to date in the American’s career. While Lomachenko is 35 and has shown some signs of taking a while to warm up in fights these days, he does still possess knockout power.
There’s a chance that Lomachenko’s southpaw stance will disturb Haney’s main weapon, his brutal jab. If the veteran can leverage this and ensure he doesn’t have a slow start again then Lomachenko could find an opening to land a knockout punch. Backing the Ukrainian to win by knockout would return 8.00—a tempting proposition.
More than likely though Haney will simply leverage his movement and size to chip away at Lomachenko and win by points.
