Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko are not very stable in their lives 135 pound belt fight Last Saturday in Las Vegas.
Haney, the undisputed champion, won a unanimous decision but public opinion certainly disagreed as many fans and pundits assumed that Lomachenko had been robbed.
But where do their performances and results place Haney and Lomachenko among the top lightweight athletes?
This is the Boxing Junkie Top 5 list (in reverse order).
No. 5. Frank Martin (17-0, 12 KOs)
I’m rolling the dice a bit with this pick as Martin is still in the process of proving himself. Isaac Cruz and William Zepeda probably have a better background than Martin. I just saw something special in the 28-year-old from Indianapolis, all the elements of a guy who could one day climb the pound list. He got a big breakthrough in his last game, a broad decision against the previously undefeated Michel Rivera in December. That’s why I feel comfortable having him here. . And he’s just getting started.
Number 4. Devin Haney (30-0, 15 KOs)
I feel a little uncomfortable putting him in 4th place because he is the undisputed champion and just overtook Lomachenko but I think this is where he belongs right now. He’s an excellent athlete and boxer, as he showed on Saturday. And as he has also proven he is still growing. He needs to figure out why he’s wilting. That almost cost him the battle and all his belts. He will learn. I believe Haney will only get better. And that might not be good news for future competitors, perhaps 140 pounds.
No. 3. Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs)
Lomachenko proved that he is still there. He may not be quite what he was in his prime but for me he looked great against Haney. watch 11lame pants round back. It’s classic Lomachenko, he’s at his best. It’s clear to me that he’s still agile, still athletic, still one of the most skilful dynamic fighters. No one has a better footing than when he started. I have to admit the elephant in the room: He’s 37 years old. I don’t know how many more elite performances he has left. However, in one night against Haney, he almost became the old Lomachenko.
No. 2. Shakur Stevenson (20-0, 10 KOs)
I think Stevenson might be the best boxer in the sport, although I don’t think Lomachenko, Haney and Gervonta Davis are far behind. He’s the closest person to Floyd Mayweather I’ve seen since Mayweather was at his peak. He’s such a good boxer that he always seems to be in complete control. He wins every second in every round. He was nearly impossible to clean and attacked a lot to win the rounds. He is not a great puncher but he has enough strength to hold his opponent. And sometimes you can be great without that.
No. 1 Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KOs)
It’s really 1A and 1B with Davis and Stevenson but I like Davis for his strength, which no one else has. If Stevenson is a better technician than Davis, that’s not much. And the difference in power is considerable. That’s another way of saying that Davis is the most accomplished boxer in the division and one of the most accomplished boxers in the sport. He’s quick, athletic, dexterous, smart, durable, and he can end any fight – against anyone – in an instant.
I want to add one more thing here: We are all hoping that the top 135-pound athletes will solve this problem in the ring. We can have a series of epic, engaging battles within the division.
