Home/Boxing

via Getty

via Getty

Devin Haney emerged victorious against Vasiliy Lomachenko but found himself at the center of a controversy. The sport is familiar to debates and discussions around a fight’s outcome. And, this fight’s decision, in particular, has been criticized and called a “robbery” by certain boxing pundits and fans. Meanwhile, Teddy Atlas thinks Haney’s performance has not been given due credit. 

Atlas is a boxing trainer, commentator, and analyst. He has decades of experience in the sport and his insights are highly regarded by the boxing community. On his podcast, “THE FIGHT with Teddy Atlas,”  he touched upon Haney’s performance amidst the controversy.

Teddy Atlas rates Devin Haney’s performance against Vasiliy Lomachenko

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The boxing world was furious with the decision and many are demanding a rematch. However, Atlas stated that he was impressed by Haney’s performance in the last round of the fight after being ‘tested’ in the “10th and 11th”.

Reflecting on the same, he stated, “He has character, he has ‘it’ factor. And Haney was being tested in the 10th and 11th. And I’ll tell you, I am not alone. A lot of people were wondering if he was starting to crack. Would he crack? It was right there playing out. He comes back in the 12th round and he behaves, as I say, he behaves like a champion.”

During the last few rounds besides that 12th, Lomachenko was getting the better of Haney and even had him hurt at one point. However, Haney showed his durability and will to compete which impressed Atlas. He added, “He knew how to fight like one, but we didn’t know if he could behave like a champion. When he is asked to behave like a champion, and he did, in the 12th round and he won the 12th round.”

via Getty

Thereafter, Atlas reflected upon certain key factors that he observed regarding the fight. He stated, “I think there are certain key factors and X factors in this fight. One, obviously, the judge Moretti. Two, the 11th round, after dominant 10th round for Loma, coming back and he needed to come back I think he was behind.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Read more: “It Will Never Happen”: Amid Controversy, Whether Devin Haney Should Follow Floyd Mayweather’s Footsteps Leaves Boxing World in Splits

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

What do you make of Atlas’s comments? In addition, do you think Haney

“behaved like a champion” as indicated by him? Share your opinions with us in the comments below.Watch This Story: 5 Times Vasyl Lomachenko Showed Impregnable Defense