Bernard Hopkins has blasted the state of judging in boxing, and has named a recent example as one that particular enraged him.
The Hall of Famer appeared on a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, and the age old topic of questionable decisions inevitably raised its head.
And Hopkins stated Devin Haney’s win over Vasiliy Lomachenko was simply about “who they want to win and move to the next level.”
“I’ll give you a recent one – Lomachenko [vs Haney]. I mean yo! It’s about who they want to win and move to the next level.
This isn’t something that you have to be a Harvard graduate to understand. It’s just so in your face.
People just say, “This is boxing.” What do you mean this is boxing? You get this reporters who have been around as long as the promoters, they get that free credential around their necks and they sell their soul!
Boxing still has that question, is boxing rigged before it goes down? Is boxing controlled of the world of power and who they can make more money off of.”
Many observers felt Lomachenko was hard done by that night, though the fight was close and there were plenty of pundits who felt the decision to award Haney the victory was indeed correct.
‘The Dream’ has since moved up to 140lbs for a shot at WBC super lightweight world champion Regis Prograis, which will take place on December 9th in San Francisco.
Lomachenko announced he would be taking a sabbatical from the sport in the months after tasting defeat to Haney, though is tipped to return in the first half of 2024, potentially against former unified world champion George Kambosos in Austraila.