Mike CoppingerESPN3 minutes to read
Devin Haney pushes Vasily Lomachenko at weigh-in
Devin Haney pushes Vasiliy Lomachenko onto the scales before the match and things get messy.
LAS VEGAS — After Devin Haney aggressively shoved Vasily Lomachenko at a party Friday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission is set to file a complaint with its attorney’s office for a disciplinary hearing at its next meeting, ESPN sources report.
Sources said Haney, who is set to earn a guaranteed $4 million for his undisputedly light defense against Lomachenko on Saturday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN+PPV), is likely to be fined.
The commission also ordered a second physical for Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) to re-clear him medically for the fight out of caution, sources say, though the Ukrainian appeared unfazed afterward.
“Now it’s mine,” said Lomchenko, who weighed 135 pounds at the Friday morning weigh-in. “He doesn’t have the strength… He’s afraid… I see now and one hundred percent (he’s afraid).”
Haney, who weighed in at 134.9 pounds for the second defense of his four lightweight titles, was booed after the push. The promotion was somewhat tamed until Hani, 24, launched the challenge across the stage, injecting some hype into the showdown between two of boxing’s best fighters.
“This was just the beginning,” said Haney, who is coming out of Las Vegas. “Do you see how easily I pushed him? He is a smaller man and I will impose my will on him.”
Sources said Lomachenko, the former league champion, will earn $3 million. The 35-year-old lost three lightweight titles to Teofimo Lopez in October 2020.
Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) won the Undisputed Lightweight Championship with a unanimous decision victory over George Camposos Jr. in June and retained his titles in a rematch in Australia in October. Haney is ESPN’s No. 1 lightweight while Lomachenko is No. 2.
Jeff Mullen, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, did not send a message seeking comment.
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