Devin Haney vs.Vasiliy Lomachenko Is The Exhibition Boxing Needs

The youngest undisputed champion in boxing sits comfortably atop the most talent-laden division; so comfortable, in fact, that no one appears willing to fight him.

To the delight of boxing fans worldwide, the lightweight division is packed with talent these days. Gervonta Davis’ next fight is sure to be a blockbuster regardless of who he’s up against, Teofimo Lopez has big power and never fails to entertain in the ring, whether he wins or loses, Vasiliy Lomachenko has a beautiful style and dazzling footwork, and the list goes on. There’s seemingly a bottomless well of dangerous talent at 135 lbs.

Devin “The Dream” Haney is the undisputed champion of the lightweight division. In professional boxing, being undisputed means that no other fighter can claim to be better in your class. Such is the case with Haney; he’s campaigned at lightweight throughout the beginning of what’s sure to be an exceptional career in boxing, and seemingly has little else to prove.

But although no other active fighters at 135 lbs. claim to be able to defeat Devin Haney in a professional boxing match, fans and commentators are never short of opinions. Of these, former two time world champion Paulie Malignaggi is becoming more known for his off-the-cuff outbursts on social media than he once was for his excellent boxing career.

Malignaggi’s latest claims are that another lightweight who’s active in professional boxing today, Vasiliy Lomachenko, would beat Devin Haney’s ass in the ring. While it’s definitely an entertaining fight that the fans have wanted to see for years, such a proclamation about the undisputed champion seems clearly to be hyperbole.

Regardless of who would win, Malignaggi’s efforts to make the most competitive fight in Haney’s division just may serve to elevate interest, even if Lomachenko hasn’t held a title in years.