Devin Haney has branded Vasiliy Lomachenko a ‘sore loser’ following his undisputed lightweight title defence against the Ukrainian.
The pair fought over twelve rounds packed with technique and strategy, with momentum swaying from one corner to the other throughout. Whilst each man banked rounds, there were plenty that could go either way.
Ringside judges ultimately awarded it a unanimous decision to the champion, and Lomachenko tasted defeat for a third time in his career. At 35-years-old, he may not get another shot at becoming a four-belt 135lbs champion.
That, paired with the fact that he was convinced he had done enough to win, are likely what led him to shed tears in the locker room post-fight.
The image touched many boxing fans – a servant of the sport falling short of a lifelong goal – but Haney has instead used it as a reaction on social media. The American has posted the picture various times to comment on opinions of the fight.
In response to Lomachenko’s team contacting all of the sanctioning bodies with a request for their man to be installed as number one challenger, Haney advised his opponent to ‘take his loss like a man.’
“This guy is a f***ing sore loser… Get this privileged sore loser out of boxing he makes excuses as he goes!
Take your loss like a man and stop crying. It was set up for you to win for the third time in your career and you failed! Tell the commission give me my 400k back for that push!”
Lomachenko’s team will be appealing the decision, but aren’t likely to get far regardless of how many fans and analysts believe he won.
Haney is expected to face Shakur Stevenson in his next championship defence, although a move up to super lightweight is never far from his thoughts.