The King’s Gambit: Undisputed Lightweight Champion Devin Haney to Defend Crown Against Vasiliy Lomachenko May 20 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas LIVE on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV
Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko are set to clash in a blockbuster lightweight unification bout on May 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The fight will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN+ in the United States and on Sky Sports Box Office in the United Kingdom.
WHEN IS HANEY VS. LOMACHENKO? DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, May 20
- Start time: 10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. BST
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 12 a.m. ET / 5 a.m. BST
- The main card is set to get underway at 10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. BST with the main event ringwalks scheduled for 12 a.m. ET / 5 a.m. BST.
- Viewers in the U.S. will be able purchase the fight on ESPN+ PPV
- The fight will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) is the reigning WBC, WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine lightweight champion who has been calling out Lomachenko for years. The 23-year-old prodigy became the youngest world champion in boxing history when he defeated Zaur Abdullaev for the interim WBC title in 2019. He was later elevated to full champion status after Lomachenko vacated the belt to pursue a unification fight with Teofimo Lopez. Haney has since defended his title four times, most recently against George Kambosos Jr. in a thrilling rematch that saw him drop the Australian challenger three times en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Haney praised Lomachenko as a worthy opponent but vowed to prove his supremacy in the division. “Lomachenko is a good fighter and future Hall of Fame candidate,” Haney said. “I take nothing away from him or what he has done in the sport of boxing. Although he didn’t give me a shot when I challenged him in 2019, I won’t be petty. This is the fight the fans really want, and I made it happen. I’ve gotten two times better since the Kambosos rematch, and believe it or not, the better my opponent is, the better I perform. I can’t wait for this fight. I know Lomachenko has an extremely high boxing IQ, and I will show the world on May 20 that I’m the best fighter on the planet. I’m ready to defend my undisputed title in devastating fashion.”
Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) is a two-time Olympic gold medalist who compiled a staggering 396-1 record as an amateur before winning world titles at featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight. As a lightweight, he knocked out Jorge Linares to capture the WBA and Ring Magazine titles, won the WBO strap against Jose Pedraza, and added the vacant WBC title to his collection with a 12-round decision over Luke Campbell in London. The 35-year-old lost his belts in a close fight against Teofimo Lopez in October 2020 but regained his form with one-sided drubbings over Masayoshi Nakatani and Richard Commey the following year. After a nearly 11-month layoff spent serving with a territorial defense battalion in his native Ukraine, Lomachenko held off unbeaten contender Jamaine Ortiz last October.
Lomachenko said, “My goal is to become the undisputed lightweight champion, and Devin Haney is the man with the belts. I respect his boxing IQ and am excited for this challenge.”
This fight promises to be a classic between two of the best boxers in the world today. Both men have speed, power, skill and heart, and both are determined to prove themselves as the undisputed king of the lightweight division. Don’t miss this epic showdown on May 20. It will be a night to remember for boxing fans everywhere.
HANEY VS. LOMACHENKO CARD
- Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko; For Haney’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO world lightweight titles
- Juno Nakatani vs. Andrew Maloney; For the vacant WBO world super flyweight title
- Raymond Muratalla vs. Jeremia Nakathila; Lightweight
- Oscar Valdez vs. Adam Lopez; Super featherweight