Undisputed champion Devin Haney retained his title on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden, but the team of three-time division champion Vasily Lomachenko plans to appeal.
Lomachenko dominated the late rounds and defeated Haney 124–110.
But to the dismay of many of the 14,436 fans in attendance, all three judges declared Haney the winner. Tim Cheetham and David Sutherland won the fight 115–113, while Dave Moretti scored 116–112.
Lomachenko’s representative said he planned to appeal the decision.
Biggest daylight robbery. Haney’s team celebrated Christmas in the summer,” Agis Klimas said. “We are going to appeal the decision. Those judges don’t understand how hard boxers work. I guarantee we will not let this happen. We want it to be seen that justice must be done.”
Honey 30-01 improved. Lomachenko, 35, lowered his record to 17-3.
The two were on the offensive in the first half of the fight, with Haney working from behind and taking advantage of his size and strength, while Lomachenko continued to hit the champion with crushing blows to the head.
But as the rounds wore on, it was the older man who punished the 24-year-old Haney with hard combinations, for example in the ninth round, when the champion showed signs of exhaustion.
All three judges had Haney 10-9 in the 12th round, a tight fight that could have gone either way. A contrary decision had tied the fight on the two judges’ scorecards.
