LAS VEGAS –If this was chess, TheGrandMaster got robbed.

That at least, was the verdict from an angry crowd that booed a unanimous decision handed down by three judges in favor of Devin Haney over Vasiliy Lomachenko Saturday night in a contentious pay-per-view fight for the undisputed title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

The chants of Loma, Loma quickly turned to boos when the scorecards were announced. It was 115-113, 116-112, 115-113, all for Haney. On the 15 Rounds card, it was 116-112 for Lomachenko. 

The outrage reflects what was a tough fight to score. It also proved that boxing isn’t chess. It’s subjective. 

Checkmate only happens on a game board. 

On the canvas, just about anything can happen.

And it  did throughout Haney-Lomachenko in a bout that included more subtle twists and turns than anything wild. To wit: There were no decisive knockdowns. There was just a lot of footwork and counters.

In the beginning the subtlety seemed to belong to Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs), who appeared to dictate pace while landing purposeful jabs. Early on, it looked as if Haney (30-0, 15 KOs)  was confused. Slowly and subtly, however, the momentum appeared to shift, slowly towards Haney, who seemed to control the center of the ring with superior size and strength. He was beginning to land body punches.

From their ringside seats, the judges saw what fans in the upper deck didn’t. Haney was scoring, but not enough to convince those fans or Lomachenko.

“I don’t want to talk about [the decision].” Lomachenko said. “All the people saw what happened today. I think I showed that I can still be in boxing. I’m in good shape now. And see you next time.”

“I can’t talk about this right now. It’s not a comfortable moment for me. Thank you to everyone who came. Before, I thought he would be better. He’s a tough fighter. He’s a good fighter.  But he’s not a pound-for-pound fighter.”

Haney, of course saw it differently. He believes his destiny is to be the very best, pound-for-pound. He was modest about his decision over Lomahenko. He heard the boos, too. But he also believed his destiny was still there, still intact.

“He’s a crafty fighter,” Haney said. “He turns it up in the championship rounds. I just have to take my hat off to him. He’s a great fighter.

“This is all experience. Me and my team are going to go back to the house, watch the fight and reflect on it. I’ve been at 135 (lightweight) for a long, long time. 

“This is my 30^th fight. I’ve been here at 135 since I was 16 years old. We’re going to go back to the lab and figure out what’s next.”

Oscar Valdez back with unanimous decision

Oscar Valdez Jr. was back, back to rediscover himself.

Mission accomplished.

Valdez (31-1, 23 KOs) did it Saturday night in a rematch against Adam Lopez, who knocked him down and might have left him with some hard questions a couple of years ago.

He’ll never erase the knockdown. But he answered some of the questions with a solid performance in winning a 98-92, 98-91, 97-93 decision over Lopez in a fight before the Vasiliy Lomachenko-Devin Haney rematch at the MGM Grand.

It wasn;t always easy. Then again, it never is for the resilient Valdez, who was fighting for the first time since Shakur Stevenson beat him badly 13 months ago.

Above all, his victory over Lopez was a sure sign that Valdez is still a contender at junior-lightweight. In beating Lopez, he resurrected the possibility of an intrigving bout with fellow Mexican Emanuel Navarrete.

An earlier date with Navarrete in Glendale at Desert Diamond Arena near Phoenix was put on hold because Valdez hurt his ribs in a fall down some stairs. But the possibility is back on. Now, Top Rank is looking to stage Valdez-Navarrete in August.

 A re-energized Valdez  was there Saturday in the opening rounds. There was some familiar power in his left hand. There was also a precise, purposeful jab. He put Lopez on his back foot, the first step in an early retreat. 

But the younger Lopez flashed some of his aggression, stepping forward midway through the third and again late in the fourth with punches powerful enough for Valdez to be wary. Valdez continued to move forward. But he had to be careful that he wasn’t moving into a trap. Lopez appeared to gain some momentum in the fourth and again in the fifth. But it slowed when Valdez landed a couple of stinging left hands.

In the sixth, Lopez began to move, side to side. Back and forth. Always on his toes. It was a dance that forced the older Valdez into a chase. Catch me, if you can. In the sixth, Valdez could not.

In the seventh and eighth, Lopez ( 16-5, 6 KOs) continued to move his feet. It was elusive and – at times — effective. Yet it seemed to frustrate only the Valdez fans, many of whom had traveled to Vegas from his Mexican hometown, Nogales, south of Tucson . They chanted: “Oscar, Oscar.” They also booed Lopez. All the while, Valdez, true to the bulldog-like tattoo on  his chest, moved forward, ever forward.

In the tenth and final rounds, Valdez’ stubborn patience paid off. He took the spring out of Lopez’s feet, rocking him repeatedly with left hands. Both fighters tripped and tumbled onto the canvas like pro wrestlers once. Then, Lopez slipped, apparently tripping over his own feet.

In the end, only Valdez was still standing, a winner for the 31st time in a long career

Raymond Muratalia wins 2nd-round TKO

Raymond Muratalia talked about delivering a statement.

He did.

He delivered a couple of them.

First, he blew away Jeremia Nakathila within two rounds, a quick TKO that helped support his stated claim on being among the best lightweights.

Then, he stated he wanted the winner of the fight that was about to happen between Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko for the undisputed title Saturday night at the MGM Garden Garden Arena.

“I think I sent a big message to the lightweight division,” Muratalia (18-0, 15 KOs) said. “Nobody has ever stopped Nakathila. I just stopped him in the second round. I think that’s a huge statement.”

“I want the winner of the main event, That’s who I want.”

Nakathila (23-3, 19  KOs), of Namibia, never had much of a chance against the fighter from Fresno, Calif., who trapped him in the corner midway through the second round and unleashed a succession of blows, Referee Robert Hall stepped in and ended it at 2:46 of the round.

Junto Nakatani delivers scary KO

In the beginning, it was one sided. In the end, it was scary.

From start to finish, Junto Nakatani controlled all of it, knocking down Andrew Moloney in the second round, breaking him down with almost clinical efficiency in the middle rounds, flooring him again in the eleventh and then finishing him in the twelfth with punch that left the Aussie flat on his back for several perilous moments.

Moloney never had a chance in a title fight featured on the Devin Haney-Vasiliy Lomachenko card Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. But he had plenty of courage, enough to endanger him against the proficient Nakatani (25-0,19 KOs), the World Boxing Organization’s new junior-bantamweight champion.

The finishing blow was set up by a couple of glancing right hands from Nakatani. He ducked once, then landed a glancing right. He ducked again, landing another. Moloney (26-3, 16 KOs) dropped his hands, leaned forward and directly into an incoming left. It looked as if he was unconscious before he hit the canvas and rolled flat onto his back.

He stayed there motionless until he was helped onto a stool, looking as if he had no clue where he was. Then, there was a glimmer of recognition He was helped to his feet. The crowd applauded. Then, cheered. Then, exhaled in relief.

Rosenberger fights Al Walsh to standstill in split draw

Daniel Rosenberger knows the name. Knows what it means. Ali is boxing royalty.

But for eight rounds he wouldn’t be intimidated by the name and all it represents.

Nico Ali Walsh, Muhammad Ali’s grandson, was just another fighter to Rosenberger and a growing crowd of fans on the Vasiliy Lomachenko–Devin Haney undercard Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Rosenberger (13-9-5, 4 KOs) a middleweight from Youngstown Ohio, fought Ali Walsh to a standstill — a split draw. A debatable one, too. 

In his nine-fight career, it was the first blemish on Ali Walsh’s career. But the blemish could have been worse. It could have been a loss. Ali Walsh (8-0-1, 5 KOs), of Las Vegas, mounted an aggressive assault in the middle rounds. But he appeared to tire over the last two. That’s when Rosenberger backed him up and rocked him, but apparently not often enough to gain an edge on the cards.

Emiliano Vargas wins second-round TKO

It was quick. It was efficient. Lethal, too.

Emiliano Vargas (5-0, 3 KOs), an unbeaten lightweight and the son of ex-welterweight great Fernando Vargas, threw two right hands and then unloaded a looping left that crashed onto  Rafael Juno’s midsection. 

Juno (3-1, 1 KO, of Houston, winced, then collapsed onto his side, beaten at 1:41 of the second round in the fourth bout on the Loma-Haney card.

Floyd Diaz wins debatable decision

Luis Fernando Saavedra (9-9, 3 KOs) challenged Diaz (9-0, 3 KOs) throughout eight rounds and appeared to beat him over several of those rounds, despite one-sided cards. The judges had 80-72, 79-73 80-72, all for  Diaz of Las Vegas

But the judging didn’t account for Saavedra’s aggressiveness throughout the third fight on the Loma-Haney card Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Round after round, he pursued and Diaz retreated into what was a debatable decision

Lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason aces to an 8-0 record

Lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason has raced through his brief career, making it look easy.

That didn’t change Saturday in the second fight on a card featuring Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko.

For five rounds, Mason (8-0, 7 KOs), of Cleveland, scored at will against Desmond Lyons (8-3-, 2 KOs) of South Carolina. Then in the sixth, Lyons kicked it into another gear, unloading  a succession of shots at a blinding rate that left Lyons defenseless and finished at 32 seconds of the round.

Middleweight prospect Amari Jones scores impressive TKO

It was first bell, a good time to say hello.

Middleweight prospect Amari Jones (9-0, 8 KOs) did, capitalizing on the opportunity with a thorough display of his versatility, power and speed in a sixth-round TKO of Chino Hill (8-3-1, 6 KOs) in the opening bout on the card featuring Devin Haney-versus-Vasiliy Lomachenko Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Jones, of Oakland CA, rocked Hill, of Davenport Iowa, with repeated right hands through the five rounds. In the sixth and final round, Jones, a Haney stablemate, went southpaw, finishing Hill with a multiple-punch combination. Referee Mike Ortega ended it at 1:16 of the round.

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – Waist-high chess pieces decorate a media room that includes posters that have Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko standing on a checker board.

It’s a good way to sell a game.

But now there’s a shove that reminds us it’s not.

It’s a fight.

At a so-called ceremonial weigh-in Friday at the MGM Grand, Haney went off script and perhaps out of character, shoving Lomachenko halfway across the stage and into the arms of his handlers.

It’s a good thing they were there. They caught him before momentum from the shove might have sent the Ukrainian tumbling off the stage and onto the floor.

Lomachenko, who underwent shoulder surgery a couple of years ago, could have been hurt, perhaps badly enough to jeopardize an ESPN+ pay-per-view bout ($59.99) Saturday night (7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET) for the undisputed lightweight title.

He wasn’t. There was no injury. Instead, there was a smile. For Lomachenko, the shove was a sign.

“Because he’s mine,’’ said Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs), a betting underdog who was suddenly sounding more confident than ever at his chance of upsetting the bigger Haney (29-0, 15 KOs). “Now, he’s mine.’’

Interpreting a shove is little bit like trying to read tea leaves. Who knows? At 24, Haney is still maturing. He’s unbeaten. He has all four of the relevant 135-pound belts. He’s a young fighter, known for his poise and discipline. Nobody ever foresaw a shove. But he’s never been on the sport’s biggest stage.

Until now.

For the clever, accomplished Lomachenko, it was a sign that Haney can’t withstand the pressure.

“Because he’s scared,’’ Lomachenko said. “He’s scared.’’

Predictably, Haney had his own interpretation. The shove was an introduction. He described it as the opening gesture in the next chapter to his unfolding career.

“The time has finally come,’’ said Haney, who was at 134.9 pounds, a tenth of a pound heavier than Lomachenko, in the official weigh-in about seven hours before the headline-making shove. “It’s been a long time coming. It’s been four years. I’ve always dreamed of, you know, facing off with him.

‘’…That was just the start. You see how easy I pushed him? He’s a smaller man and I’m gonna impose my will on him.

“It’s about legacy. This is a dream for me. You know, I’ve been wanting this fight for a long, long time. And it’s finally here.

“I cannot wait to show how great Devin Haney is. This is a fight that will bring out my greatness.”

The unscripted moment happened during the ritual face-off for the cameras. First, Haney started talking trash. Then suddenly, he placed his hands on Lomachenko — one on each shoulder — and pushed with power that needed no interpretation.

On this chessboard, more violence looms. 

Photo by Mikey Williams / Top Rank via Getty Images

  •   Devin Haney 134.9 lbs vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko 135lbs
(Haney’s Undisputed Lightweight Championship – 12 Rounds)
Judges: Tim Cheatham, Dave Moretti and David Sutherland
Referee: Harvey Dock

   •   Oscar Valdez132.1 lbs vs. Adam Lopez132.1 lbs
(Junior Lightweight Rematch — 10 Rounds)

   •   Raymond Muratalla 133.9 lbs vs. Jeremia Nakathila133.6 lbs
(Lightweight — 10 Rounds)

(ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+, 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)

•  Andrew Moloney 114.5lbs vs. Junto Nakatani 114.6 lbs
(Vacant WBO Junior Bantamweight Title — 12 Rounds)

•    Nico Ali Walsh 158.4 lbs  vs. Danny Rosenberger 158 lbs
 (Middleweight — 8 Rounds)

(ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)

•  Emiliano Fernando Vargas 133.8 lbs  vs. Rafael Jasso134.7lbs 
 (Lightweight— 4 Rounds)

•  Floyd Diaz 119.8 lbs vs. Luis Fernando Saavedra 119.8 lbs
 (Junior Featherweight — 8 Rounds)

•    Abdullah Mason 135.8 lbs  vs. Desmond Lyons 135.3 lbs
 (Lightweight — 6 Rounds)

•    Amari Jones 160 lbs  vs. Pachino Hill 161.9 lbs
 (Middleweight — 6 Rounds)

By Norm Frauenheim –

LAS VEGAS – It was first mentioned about four years ago. It didn’t happen then. But the possibility was never forgotten, cast aside like so much else in a business known more for what doesn’t happen than what does.

Vasiliy Lomachenko-versus-Devin Haney was always there, always a fight to be made because of singular skill instead of the usual hype.

Hype still sells, of course. A tangible reminder of that was there just a month ago in Tank Davis’ stoppage of Ryan Garcia. Pay-per-view, it was a winner. It’s hard to argue with a reported million buys and counting.

On the artistic scale, however, what transpired within the ropes was forgettable. There’s no demand for a sequel. Don’t expect it to get any consideration for Fight of the Year. Garcia’s seventh-round surrender was a blowout. Thanks for watching. And buying.

Twenty-eight days later, Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) and Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) meet Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in a lightweight fight that’s not been preceded by over-the-top insults or the social-media army that follows them

It’s also hard to predict how ESPN+’s pay-per-view telecast ($59.99, 7 pm PT/10 pm ET) will fare. Best guess: It won’t begin to approach the Tank-Garcia number. The Lomachenko-Haney posters include a couple of chess pieces. Chess attracts a crowd more interested in skill than screaming.

It’s on that skill scale, however, that Lomachenko-Haney figures to score. Artistically, it promises to be a hit. All the elements are there for what could be a technical masterpiece, a back-and-forth dance between lightweights with quick feet and quicker minds.

That’s not to say there hasn’t been some rhetoric. This is boxing, after all. Instead of trash, however, this talk qualifies as the psychological byplay that precedes any opening bell to a significant fight for an undisputed title.

To wit: Haney calls Lomachenko “a dirty fighter.” He tells him that he knows Lomachenko is training to “hit him on the break.’’  

Lomachenko looks back at him as though the Ukrainian has heard it all. At 35-years-old, he has.

The classically-schooled Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and perhaps the greatest Olympic boxer ever, has never been called dirty.

Dirty, perhaps, is another word for clever. Lomachenko is certainly that.

Haney might be throwing a psychological jab in an attempt to make Lomachenko think he’s not quite the accomplished tactician he believes himself to be.

Haney also might be asking the assigned referee, Harvey Dock of New Jersey, to take a closer look, especially during moments when Lomachenko steps inside. He’ll have to.

Lomachenko, who will be remembered as one of history’s great featherweights, has a 5 ½-inch disadvantage in reach. Expect him to step inside often. Expect Dock to separate them often. The key is what happens before and perhaps at the moment Dock steps between them.

If Haney can disrupt Lomachenko’s thinking early, he might have the cornerstone to victory. A couple of days before opening bell, betting odds suggested the fight will be close. Very close. From punch to psychology, any move – no matter how subtle – could prove decisive.

Haney doesn’t underestimate the challenge that awaits him. He’s never faced a smarter, more experienced foe.

The Lomachenko is about 11 years older, yet has 10 fewer pro bouts than Haney, who will turn 25 in November.

Haney has youth and size, a powerful, perhaps insurmountable combo. That double-edged advantage might be enough for the younger man to win a fight with enormous stakes.

Haney, currently under contract to Top Rank, will be a free agent after the bout. Against Lomachenko, he’s fighting for a victory that will enhance name recognition and pound-for-pound credibility. The bigger the victory, the brighter future for Haney.

It’s why he likes to mention that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum once compared Lomachenko to Muhammad Ali, acknowledged as The Greatest. He’s fighting to claim some of his own greatness

“I want to do more than beat him, I want to beat him up,’’ Haney told ESPN.

There are questions about whether he can. If there’s anybody who knows how to keep a fight close, it’s Lomachenko. There are also questions about how difficult it will be for Haney to make weight, 135 pounds. The official weigh-in is scheduled for Friday morning. The televised weigh-in late in the day is strictly for show.

A battle to make weight could drain Haney, who might make the jump to junior-welterweight (140) after the bout. Lomachenko knows that and probably has another tactic up his ever-resilient sleeve for that possibility.

Haney has shown great poise and discipline throughout his unbeaten career. He doesn’t get rattled. Guess here, he still won’t in a defining bout against his toughest foe ever.

Haney, by split-decision.

LAS VEGAS (May 18, 2023) – A new junior bantamweight champion will be crowned this Saturday as part of the two-fight ESPN-televised prelims to the Haney-Loma PPV at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Australia’s former world champion Andrew Moloney (25-2, 16 KOs) and Japan’s undefeated former WBO flyweight champion Junto Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs)will collide for the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world championship,

Opening the telecast will be undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs), grandson of Muhammad Ali, in a scheduled eight-rounder against against Ohio-born veteran Danny Rosenberger (13-9-4, 4 KOs).

Moloney-Nakatani and Ali Walsh-Rosenberger will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The night will begin with an ESPN+-streamed undercard (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT) featuring the return of undefeated lightweights Emiliano Fernando Vargas (4-0, 3 KOs) and Abdullah Mason (7-0, 6 KOs). Vargas, son of former world champion Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas, returns in four-rounder against Rafael Jasso (3-0, 1 KO), while Mason, a Cleveland-born southpaw, will see action in a six-round clash versus Desmond Lyons (8-2, 2 KOs).
 
The undercard also features unbeaten junior featherweight Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (8-0, 3 KOs) in an eight-rounder and middleweight slugger Amari Jones (8-0, 7 KOs) in a six-round tilt.
 
Haney vs. Lomachenko will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the event’s exclusive digital distributor in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Priced at $59.99 across all distributors, it also will be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Devin Haney Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tickets are on sale now at axs.com.

At Thursday’s press conference, this is the fighters had to say:

Andrew Moloney

“It’s amazing. This is way better than anything I could ever imagine. To fight here in Las Vegas one week after my brother {Jason} became world champion in Stockton. You couldn’t write a better story. That’s why I’m excited about Saturday. This is destiny. I’m going to become world champion.”
 
“There’s no doubt that he is a good fighter. He was a world champion. He is undefeated. He has been avoided. But as you’ve seen with me and my brother, we will fight anyone.”
 
Junto Nakatani
 
“I’ve been training hard. All that is left is to demonstrate. I want to make a big impression on Las Vegas fans and all over the world. I’m confident that I will be going home with the belt.”
 
“I was able to spar with many different types of fighters. I sparred about 300 rounds. It was a lot of experience for me.”
 
“I feel that very confident because Rudy Hernandez [my trainer] is in my corner. I want to show what I’ve learned from him and Daisuke Okabe.”
 
Nico Ali Walsh
 
“This is business as usual for my first eight-round fight. I’m prepared for 12 rounds. The rounds don’t matter. l love more rounds because it’s more experience.”
 
“It’s super special. It’s not just that it will be in Las Vegas. It’s the fact that it’s at the MGM Grand. I’m standing where I used to hang with my family and my grandfather. It brings me so much nostalgia. it makes it more powerful.”
 
Danny Rosenberger 
 
“I definitely have a lot of experience. I have a lot of fights. I may have nine losses, but don’t judge me by my past. I think my experience will give me an edge. We’ve put the work in and we’re excited to go out there and put a show on.”
 
Emiliano Fernando Vargas
 
“This is a truly a blessing. It rarely gets bigger than this, fighting at MGM Grand. This is a learning experience. We learn fight by fight. Having my father with me. Having Jorge Linares there with him, I’m learning a lot, and you will see Saturday night.”
 
“I’m only 19 years old. It’s going to get scary in a couple years. Then we’re going to get these belts.”
 
Amari Jones
 
“It means a lot. it’s another big card for the third {time} in a row. It feels good. Australia was far from home. But we got the job down. Now we’re here in Las Vegas. I moved here a couple years ago. I call it home. A lot of family will come out, and I can’t wait to put on a show for them. I improved a lot in my last fight. He was tough. It brought the best out of me. I like those types of opponents because it brings out the best out of me.”
 

Saturday, May 20

Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)

Devin Haney vs. Vasiliy Lomachenko, 12 Rounds, Haney’s Undisputed Lightweight Championship

Oscar Valdez vs. Adam Lopez, 10 Rounds, Junior Lightweight 

Raymond Muratalla vs. Jeremia Nakathila, 10 Rounds, Lightweight 
 

ESPN, ESPN Deportes & ESPN+ (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)

Junto Nakatani vs. Andrew Moloney, 12 Rounds, Vacant WBO Junior Bantamweight World Title 

Nico Ali Walsh vs. Danny Rosenberger, 8 Rounds, Middleweight

ESPN+ (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT)

Emiliano Fernando Vargas vs. Rafael Jasso, 4 Rounds, Lightweight

Amari Jones vs. Pachino Hill, 6 Rounds, Middleweight

LAS VEGAS (May 17, 2023) – Two kings. One undisputed title.

Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) is set to defend his undisputed lightweight championship against Ukraine’s three-division world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) this Saturday, May 20, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Haney vs. Lomachenko will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the event’s exclusive digital distributor in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Priced at $59.99 across all distributors, it also will be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers. 

The PPV undercard features a 10-round junior lightweight co-feature between two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) and Adam “BluNose” Lopez (16-4, 6 KOs) in a rematch of their 2019 battle.

In the PPV opener, rising lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (17-0, 14 KOs) will take on big-punching Namibian contender Jeremia Nakathila (23-2, 19 KOs) in a 10-round clash. 

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Devin Haney Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tickets are on sale now at axs.com.

At Wednesday’s press conference, this is what the fighters had to say:

Devin Haney

“I feel like he should have fought me four years ago. But now the time has come. It’s going to be worse for him than it would have been had we fought back then.”

“On paper, this is my toughest test. But I look to make it an easy night. I look to make it as easy as possible and come out victorious.”

“I have been calling for this fight for four years. But the time has finally come. I take my hat off to him. I respect everything that he’s done. I respect his decision to stay and defend his country. That gave me my shot to go to Australia, so it was only right that I give him the shot as well.”

“I know what he is preparing for. But at the end of the day, we’re prepared for whatever he brings to the table. If he wants to make it a dirty fight, we have answers for that.”

Vasiliy Lomachenko

“Camp was hard like always. But I was very motivating. It was motivating because I understand. It is my last chance to become undisputed. So, I pushed myself in every training session. And now there are just four days left.”

“He talks about the past, but It’s hard to say things about the past. You can’t change it. Even if you talk about it, you can’t change it. Only God can change it.”

“He is a high-level boxer. He understands boxing. He knows what he needs to do. He can use his reach. He can use his feet. He can create distance. But I have a lot of experience in this sport. It will be very interesting for me.” 

Oscar Valdez

“I’m excited because it’s been one year since my last fight. I’m coming off a loss, so I’m motivated. It doesn’t matter if you lose. What matters is how you come back. I’m going to come back and make a statement.”

“This is the perfect time for the rematch. This is what I love to do. I love being in the gym. I love training. I love fighting. You’re going to see something different Saturday night.”

“Eddy Reynoso is a great trainer. We always work on a lot of things. One thing that is always clear for me is that he works on the defense.” 

“That doesn’t mean we’re not going to be offensive. We’re always going to keep that defense ready so that we don’t have any surprises.”

Adam Lopez

“I’m surprised this rematch is happening. Oscar said he’d give me the rematch after our first fight. But it never happened. We went our separate ways. But it’s coming back full circle. I think it’s great that it’s happening on this card. It’s a huge fight. People wanted to see it. I’m excited for it.”

“I’m a different fighter now. He fought me when I was 23 years old with 15 fights. I’m 27 now with 21 fights. I’ve been in there with some of the best since the fight with him. I’ve taken some losses, but I have learned from them. I’ve always taken tough fights.”

“I’m at my best. I’m in the best shape of my life. It’s a different story this time. If he thinks this is a tune-up fight, then he’s going to have a long night.”

Raymond Muratalla 

“I’m just ready to be a champ. This is nothing but hard work that we’ve been putting in. I can’t wait for Saturday. I’m trying to show people that I’m the next 135-pound champion.”

“I didn’t warm up like I usually do in my last fight. So, I got knocked down {in the first round}. But I got back up, and I got the stoppage.”

“I’m ready. I’m ready for anyone. To be the best, you have to go through these people. I’m just trying to get to the top. I’m going to take care of business this Saturday.”

Jeremia Nakathila

“I can’t wait for Saturday night to do my thing. I’m excited to be here. We are looking forward to making a statement.”

“The last time I was in Las Vegas you were all able to see what I displayed against Miguel Berchelt. This Saturday, you will see more than that. I saw that Muratalla wanted to fight me on social media. I saw him mention my name. But I want to say that he can’t handle what he called out.” 

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN: Haney vs. Lomachenko will be live this Saturday, May 20, at 10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT in English and Spanish on ESPN+ PPV, exclusive digital distributor in the U.S.  The pay-per-view can be purchased on ESPN+ PPV for $59.99, separate streaming subscription required. More information here. The event takes place at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada. 

In the much-awaited main event, two of boxing’s pound-for-pound best will battle for lightweight supremacy as Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) defends his undisputed crown against Ukraine’s three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs).

Haney will fight in the U.S. for the first time since defeating George Kambosos Jr. in Australia twice last year to capture and retain the undisputed championship. The 24-year-old is set to make a historic defense of his four championship titles in front of an adopted hometown crowd.

Lomachenko is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and a former three-division world champion who is widely considered to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. The 35-year-old is considered a Ukrainian hero and took an 11-month hiatus from boxing to serve in a territorial defense battalion for his country.

On the PPV Undercard are two high-stakes matchups:

The 10-round junior lightweight co-feature will see former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) taking on Adam “BluNose” Lopez (16-4, 6 KOs) in a rematch of their 2019 battle.
 
In the 10-round PPV opener, undefeated American lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (17-0, 14 KOs) looks to level up against former title challenger and big-punching Namibian Jeremia Nakathila (23-2, 19 KOs) who stopped former long-reigning junior lightweight world champion Miguel Berchelt in his last outing.

Prior to the PPV event, ESPN and ESPN+ will feature the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title showdown between Australia’s former world champion Andrew Moloney (25-2, 16 KOs) and Japan’s undefeated former WBO flyweight titlist Junto Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs).  The top of the broadcast marks the return of undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs) grandson of Muhammad Ali, taking on Danny Rosenberger (13-9-4, 4 KOs) in an eight-rounder.

The undercard will stream exclusively on ESPN+.

Joe Tessitore will call the action ringside with analysts Andre Ward, a Hall of Famer and 2004 U.S. Olympic gold medalist, and Timothy Bradley Jr., a Class of 2023 Hall of Famer.  Also on location will be Mark Kriegel, Bernardo Osuna and Crystina Poncher as reporters, and Max Kellerman, to host a special live edition of Max on Boxing on Friday.

Original Program: Blood, Sweat, & Tears: Haney vs. Lomachenko

Ahead of the May 20 championship event, ESPN will air the original program, Blood, Sweat & Tears: Haney vs. Lomachenko. The two-part series features 30-minute all-access episodes taking fight fans inside the training camps of both contenders. The program is available in English and with Spanish subtitles.

In addition to the air times below, Blood, Sweat & Tears: Haney vs. Lomachenko will also be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App and on ESPN.com and ESPN+.

Blood, Sweat & Tears: Haney vs. Lomachenko

ESPN.com

Out Thursday:

Inside the unique – and lucrative – business of Devin Haney, by Mike Coppinger

Out Friday:

Can Vasiliy Lomachenko turn the boxing world upside down … again? by Mark Kriegel

Inside the matchup between Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko, by Timothy Bradley Jr.

ESPN+, ESPN App Boxing Content: Live and Upcoming, On Demand, Studio Shows, Archives

Top Rank: Real Time Go all-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night

Boxing

Top Rank

State of Boxing

Max on Boxing Max Kellerman hosts a 30-minute series weighing in on key boxing news and providing insights on the sport’s top fighters and upcoming events

Who Do U Fight 4? Get to know the next generation of Top Rank stars and learn what drives them

Follow @ESPNRingside: Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok

Haney vs. Lomachenko (All Times ET)

About ESPN 
ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.?ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.??

About ESPN+  

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 25.3 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).   

LAS VEGAS (May 16, 2023) – Undisputed lightweight king Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) and former three-division world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) made their grand arrivals today in Las Vegas ahead of their showdown this Saturday, May 20, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Haney vs. Lomachenko will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the event’s exclusive digital distributor in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Priced at $59.99 across all distributors, it also will be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers. 

The PPV undercard features a 10-round junior lightweight co-feature between two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) and Adam “BluNose” Lopez (16-4, 6 KOs) in a rematch of their 2019 battle.

In the PPV opener, rising lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (17-0, 14 KOs) will take on big-punching Namibian contender Jeremia Nakathila (23-2, 19 KOs) in a 10-round clash. 

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Devin Haney Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tickets are on sale now at axs.com.

At Tuesday’s grand arrivals, this is what Haney and Lomachenko had to say:

Devin Haney

“This is all a dream come true. I thank God for this every day. I watched fighters make their grand arrivals when I was a young kid. This is all a blessing, and I’m excited for Saturday night.”

“I’m going to put on a dominant victory. I’m going to go in there and impose my will on Loma and show the world how great Devin Haney really is, how versatile, how strong, how young, and how experienced I am in that ring.”

Vasiliy Lomachenko

“It will be very, very interesting. We have two different styles.”

“I believe that when you say something, you need to prove it. I have a lot of experience in boxing, and anything can happen during a fight.”

“I just think about what I need to do during a fight. And my goal is to become the undisputed champion of the world.”

LAS VEGAS (May 12, 2023) – Fight week is almost here. Undisputed lightweight king Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) will defend his crown against Ukraine’s three-division world champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) on Saturday, May 20, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Haney vs. Lomachenko will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the event’s exclusive digital distributor in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Priced at $59.99 across all distributors, it also will be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

The PPV undercard features a 10-round junior lightweight co-feature between two-division world champion Oscar Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) and Adam “BluNose” Lopez (16-4, 6 KOs) in a rematch of their 2019 battle.

In the PPV opener, rising lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (16-0, 13 KOs) will take on big-punching Namibian contender Jeremia Nakathila (23-2, 19 KOs) in a 10-round clash. 

The stream will be preceded by a two-fight ESPN telecast featuring the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title showdown between Australia’s former world champion Andrew Moloney (25-2, 16 KOs) and Japan’s undefeated former WBO flyweight titlist Junto Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs). Opening the broadcast will be undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs), grandson of Muhammad Ali, in a scheduled eight-rounder against Ohio-born veteran Danny Rosenberger (13-9-4, 4 KOs). Moloney-Nakatani and Ali Walsh-Rosenberger will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The night will begin with an ESPN+-streamed undercard (6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT) featuring the return of undefeated lightweights Emiliano Fernando Vargas (4-0, 3 KOs) and Abdullah Mason (7-0, 6 KOs). Vargas, son of former world champion Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas, returns in an eight-rounder, while Mason, a Cleveland-born southpaw, will see action in a six-round clash.

The undercard also features unbeaten junior featherweight Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (8-0, 3 KOs) in an eight-rounder and middleweight slugger Amari Jones (8-0, 7 KOs) a six-round tilt.

Before Saturday’s full night of action, the full suite of fight week events will stream live on Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter and Facebook pages, in addition to various ESPN platforms.

New episodes of Top Rank Real Time, a behind-the-scenes look at the fighters and their camps, will premier every day on Top Rank’sYouTube channel.

Tuesday, May 16: Haney vs. Lomachenko Grand Arrivals
4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT
Streaming live on ESPN+ and Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages

Wednesday, May 17: Haney vs. Lomachenko Final Presser
3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT
Streaming live on ESPN+ and Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages

Wednesday, May 17: Undercard Open Workouts
6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Streaming live on Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages
Featuring: Oscar Valdez, Adam Lopez, Andrew Moloney, Nico Ali Walsh, and Junto Nakatani.

Thursday, May 18: Undercard Presser
2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT
Streaming live on ESPN+ and Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages

Friday, May 19: Haney vs. Lomachenko Official Weigh-in
7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT
Airing live on ESPNEWS and Top Rank’s YouTube, Twitter & Facebook pages

Saturday, May 20: Haney vs. Lomachenko Fight Day
Undercard Stream
6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT
Live and exclusively on ESPN+
*Features undefeated lightweights Emiliano Fernando Vargas and Abdullah Mason in separate bouts, along with undefeated junior featherweight Floyd Diaz and middleweight prospect Amari Jones.

ESPN-televised Prelims
8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
Live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+
*Televised prelims include Moloney-Nakatani & Ali Walsh-Rosenberger.

PPV Broadcast
10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT
CLICK HERE for Top Rank on ESPN+  PPV Event Order Page
*PPV broadcast includes Haney-Lomachenko, Valdez-Lopez, and Muratalla-Nakathila.

Ahead of the May 20 undisputed lightweight championship showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, ESPN will air Blood, Sweat & Tears: Haney vs. Lomachenko. The two-part series features 30-minute all-access episodes taking fight fans inside the training camps of both fighters. The program is available in English and with Spanish subtitles.

The marquee main event on May 20 will stream live at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the exclusive digital distributor for the event in the United States. Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KO), the undefeated 24-year-old undisputed champion, will battle against challenger and former three-division world champion, 35-year-old Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KO).

Haney, originally from the Bay Area of California, lives and trains out of Las Vegas. As he gears up in his adopted hometown for the biggest blockbuster fight of his young career, fight fans will get a look how he’s preparing for this monumental moment against the sport’s former kingpin.

Lomachenko, a Ukrainian hero who took an 11-month hiatus from boxing to serve in a territorial defense battalion, is a former three-division world champion who is widely considered to be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Fans will learn about his rich history and unique training methods as he prepares to secure the one major milestone that has eluded him thus far, the undisputed lightweight crown.

In addition to the air times below, Blood, Sweat & Tears: Haney vs. Lomachenko will also be available for replay on-demand in the ESPN App and on ESPN.com and ESPN+.

Blood, Sweat & Tears: Haney vs. Lomachenko

ESPN+, ESPN App Boxing Content: Live and Upcoming, On Demand, Studio Shows, Archives

• Top Rank: Real Time Go all-access with top fighters throughout fight week as they work their way to fight night
• Boxing
• Top Rank
• State of Boxing

• Max on Boxing Max Kellerman hosts a 30-minute series weighing in on key boxing news and providing insights on the sport’s top fighters and upcoming events
• Who Do U Fight 4? Get to know the next generation of Top Rank stars and learn what drives them

Follow @ESPNRingside on social media: Facebook Instagram Twitter TikTok

About ESPN 

ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment brand, features eight U.S. television networks, direct-to-consumer ESPN+, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, endeavors on every continent around the world, and more.? ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.? 

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the industry-leading sports streaming service that offers fans in the U.S. thousands of live sports events, original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks and exclusive editorial content from dozens of ESPN writers and reporters. Launched in April 2018, ESPN+ has grown to more than 24.9 million subscribers. Fans sign up to ESPN+ for just $9.99 a month (or $99.99 per year) at ESPN.com, ESPNplus.com or on the ESPN App (mobile and connected devices).

LAS VEGAS (April 24, 2023) – A pair of 19-year-old lightweight prodigies are set to return in separate bouts as part of the ESPN+-streamed undercard to the PPV main event headlined by the undisputed lightweight championship battle between Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Undefeated Las Vegas native Emiliano Fernando Vargas will take on an opponent to be named in a four-round bout, and Cleveland-born southpaw AbdullahMason will face Desmond Lyons in a six-rounder.

Vargas’ return, Mason-Lyons and additional undercard fights will be streamed live on ESPN+ beginning at 6 p.m. ET/3 p.m. PT. 

The stream will precede a two-fight ESPN telecast featuring the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title showdown between Australia’s former world champion Andrew Moloney and Japan’s undefeated former WBO flyweight titlist Junto Nakatani. Moloney-Nakatani and the return of middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

The Haney vs. Lomachenko main card will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the event’s exclusive digital distributor in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Priced at $59.99 across all distributors, it also will be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

The PPV undercard features a 10-round junior lightweight co-feature between two-division world champion Oscar Valdez and Adam “BluNose” Lopez in a rematch of their 2019 battle.

In the PPV opener, rising lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla will take on big-punching Namibian contender Jeremia Nakathila in a 10-round clash. 

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Devin Haney Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tickets are on sale now at axs.com.

Vargas (4-0, 3 KOs) was a seven-time national amateur champion before debuting in the pro ranks in May 2022 with a first-round knockout of Mark Salgado. In October, “El General” signed a multi-year promotional contract with Top Rank and debuted with a highlight-reel knockout over Julio Martinez. Under the guidance of his father and trainer, former world champion Fernando “El Feroz” Vargas, the young lightweight has already scored two victories this year, a four-round decision win over Francisco Duque in February and a second-round knockout over Edgar Uvalle in April.

Mason (7-0, 6 KOs) was considered one of the brightest talents in U.S. amateur boxing before signing with Top Rank in October 2021. Mason made his pro debut in November 2021 with a second-round TKO win over Jaylan Phillips. In 2022, Mason went 5-0 with four knockouts. The southpaw phenom is coming off a first-round stoppage over Erick Garcia Benitez in April. Lyons (8-2, 2 KOs) is a 24-year-old South Carolina native who defeated Aaron Jamel Hollis via a six-round decision last May. 

In other undercard action streaming on ESPN+:

• Junior featherweight Floyd “Cashflow” Diaz (8-0, 3 KOs) looks to shine in front of a hometown crowd in an eight-round bout against a to-be-determined foe. Diaz is coming off a fourth-round TKO win over Edgar Joe Cortes last November.
   
• Middleweight slugger Amari Jones (8-0, 7 KOs) will make his 2023 debut in a six-round clash. In 2022, Jones traveled to Melbourne, Australia, and fought on the undercard of both Haney-George Kambosos Jr. fights.

LAS VEGAS (April 20, 2023) –Devin “The Dream” Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) is exactly one month away from the most important fight of his career.

The 24-year-old undisputed lightweight king will defend his crown against former three-division champion Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) Saturday, May 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The Haney vs. Lomachenko main card will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the event’s exclusive digital distributor in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Additionally, it will be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers and is priced at $59.99 across all distributors.

The main card will be preceded by a two-fight ESPN telecast featuring the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title showdown between Australia’s former world champion Andrew Moloney (25-2, 16 KOs) and Japan’s undefeated former WBO flyweight champion Junto Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs). Opening the broadcast will be undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs), grandson of Muhammad Ali, in a scheduled eight-rounder against a to-be-determined foe.

Moloney-Nakatani and the return of Ali Walsh will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Devin Haney Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tickets are on sale now at axs.com.

At Thursday’s media workout in Las Vegas, this is what Haney, Moloney and Ali Walsh had to say. Also in attendance was lightweight phenom Emiliano Fernando Vargas, who will appear on the ESPN+-streamed undercard against an opponent to be named.

Devin Haney

“Camp has been great. I’m feeling good. I’m feeling strong. My weight is good. I’m happy and in good spirts. I’m ready to go.”
 
“When we go into a fight, it’s a war. It’s combat. Two warriors going at it. We put our life on the line when we go in that ring.”
 
“He has experience and ring generalship. I know he’s training for a dirty fight. He wants to get in and get as dirty as possible in the clinch. That’s what I’ve heard that he’s training for.  We’re just preparing for whatever he brings to the table. We know the type of fight that he wants.”
 
“It’s a blessing. I’m happy that finally I get my shot at him. The tables have turned. It feels good that the tables have turned. Now I’m the guy giving him the shot. I’m happy that I get to prove myself.”
 
Andrew Moloney

“My goal is to become a two-time world champion, and I am doing everything I can to achieve my dream. Junto Nakatani is a great fighter, and I truly believe I have what it takes to defeat him.”
 
Nico Ali Walsh

“I got my start in boxing at Bill Haney’s gym, and I’m thrilled to be part of such a massive event. Fighting in my hometown is always special. I can’t wait for May 20.”

“This is my first scheduled eight-rounder, which represents another step in my professional journey. I’m dedicated to my craft, and I look forward to showing the fans how much I’ve improved since my last fight.” 

LAS VEGAS (April 10, 2023) — A world title fight and the grandson of “The Greatest” take center stage on Saturday, May 20 as part of the ESPN-televised prelims to the PPV main event headlined by undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney’s title defense against former pound-for-pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
 
The two-fight telecast is headlined by the vacant WBO junior bantamweight world title showdown between Australia’s former world champion Andrew Moloney and Japan’s undefeated former WBO flyweight titlist Junto Nakatani.
 
Opening the broadcast will be undefeated middleweight prospect Nico Ali Walsh, grandson of Muhammad Ali, in a scheduled eight-rounder against a to-be-determined foe.
 
Moloney-Nakatani and Ali Walsh’s return will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
 
The Haney vs. Lomachenko main card will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the event’s exclusive digital distributor in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Additionally, it will be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers and is priced at $59.99 across all distributors.
 
The PPV undercard features a 10-round junior lightweight co-feature between two-division world champion Oscar Valdez and Adam “BluNose” Lopez in a rematch of their 2019 battle.
 
In the PPV opener, rising lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla will take on big-punching Namibian contender Jeremia Nakathila in a 10-round clash. 
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Devin Haney Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tickets starting at $104, plus applicable service charges, are on sale now at axs.com.
 
Moloney (25-2, 16 KOs) hopes to become a two-time world champion in the city where Joshua Franco upset him by unanimous decision back in June 2020. The two fought twice more, with a controversial no contest and second Franco decision victory closing the chapter on their trilogy. Following the third Franco fight in August 2021, Moloney regrouped in December 2021 with a clear points victory over Froilan Saludar. In 2022, he fought three times, including a pair of homecoming appearances on the Devin Haney-George Kambosos Jr. cards in Melbourne, Australia. Moloney, ranked No. 2 by the WBO at 115 pounds, earned the title shot with a 10-round decision over Norbelto Jimenez last October for the WBO International strap.
 
WBO No. 1 junior bantamweight contender Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs), a 25-year-old southpaw from Inabe-gun, Mie, Japan, ranks among the hardest lighter-weight punchers in boxing. An eight-year pro, Nakatani captured the vacant WBO flyweight world title in November 2020 with an eighth-round knockout over Giemel Magramo. Nakatani defended his flyweight crown twice, bloodying and stopping Angel Acosta in four rounds and knocking out Ryota Yamauchi in eight. He vacated his title to move up to junior bantamweight and scored a one-sided decision over former unified world champion Francisco Rodriguez Jr. last November. 
 
Ali Walsh (8-0, 5 KOs) moves up to his first scheduled eight-rounder nearly two years removed from his pro debut. He made his Las Vegas debut last April at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, obliterating Alejandro Ibarra with a left-right combination in the first round. Ali Walsh righted the only blemish on his record last August, stopping Reyes Sanchez in the second round of their rematch with a body shot. Sanchez lost a majority decision to Ali Walsh in December 2021. He made his 2023 debut in February, outlasting the rugged Eduardo Ayala en route to a convincing six-round unanimous decision.
 

LAS VEGAS (April 4, 2023) — Two high-stakes matchups will be featured on the Top Rank on ESPN+ PPVundercard headlined by the undisputed lightweight showdown between Devin “The Dream” Haney and Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko on Saturday, May 20 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
 
The 10-round junior lightweight co-feature will see former two-division world champion Oscar Valdez taking on Adam “BluNose” Lopez in a rematch of their 2019 battle.
 
In the PPV opener, rising lightweight Raymond “Danger” Muratalla takes a big step up in competition versus big-punching Namibian contender Jeremia Nakathila in a 10-round clash. 
 
Haney vs. Lomachenko will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the event’s exclusive digital distributor in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Additionally, it will be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers and will be priced at $59.99 across all distributors.
 
Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Devin Haney Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tickets starting at $104, plus applicable service charges, are on sale now at axs.com.
 
Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) of Nogales, Mexico, represented his country in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. As a pro, he captured the WBO featherweight world title against Matias Rueda in 2016 and made six defenses. In 2019, he fought Lopez in his first fight at junior lightweight, rising off the canvas before stopping him in controversial fashion in the seventh round. Valdez would go on to defeat Jayson Velez before scoring a stunning 10^th-round knockout over Miguel Berchelt to capture the WBC junior lightweight title. The 32-year-old suffered his first defeat in a unification fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena against Shakur Stevenson last April, and a year later, he is ready for another run at a 130-pound title.
 
Valdez said, “I feel very happy to finally be returning to the place where I most like to be, which is inside the ring, after a one-year absence from boxing. I feel happy to finally be returning. I am very motivated, more than ever, to continue my dream to once again become a world champion. That is my goal this year. 
 
“In order to do that, I have to get past this obstacle, which is not going to be easy. I’m going to be facing someone that I fought in 2019 in Adam Lopez, an experienced opponent who even sent me to the canvas in the early rounds of our first fight. I cannot take him lightly, and that’s making me train harder now. I have to get past this fight to be able to fight the current champion, Emanuel ‘El Vaquero’ Navarrete.”
 
Lopez (16-4, 6 KOs) is a 26-year-old native of Glendale, California, who has the sport in his bloodline. His father, the late Hector Lopez, captured a silver medal for Team Mexico at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Lopez earned a Top Rank contract with his off-the-canvas knockout victory over Jean Carlos Rivera in May 2019. Following the Rivera victory, he fought Valdez on a day’s notice after Valdez’s original opponent was more than 10 pounds overweight. Lopez is 3-2 with a no contest since the first Valdez fight, including hard-fought decision victories over Louie Coria and Jason Sanchez.
 
Lopez said, “He should have picked someone else. He barely got away the first time around. This time, it will be clear that I’m the better fighter. I’m coming to get mine back May 20.”
 
Muratalla (17-0, 14 KOs) is the latest standout to come out of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy. He debuted in 2016 in Mexico and made his U.S. debut in 2018. Muratalla has stopped 12 of his last 13 opponents and shined at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last April with a third round stoppage over Jeremy Hill. The native of Fontana, California, returns less than two months since his ninth-round knockout win over Humberto Galindo in March. Muratalla survived a first-round knockdown to dominate Galindo.
 
“This is my time. This is my moment,” Muratalla said. “I’ve been asking for this fight for a long time, and I am thrilled it’s taking place on such a significant card. Nakathila is a dangerous fighter, but that will only fuel me to put on a sensational performance.”
 
Nakathila (23-2, 19 KOs) is a 32-year-old former title challenger from the South African country of Namibia. He made his pro debut in 2013 and went 11-0 in his home country before traveling to Russia to face Evgeny Chuprakov in his first regional title opportunity. Following his first loss, the hard-hitting Nakathila bounced back with 10 knockout wins before securing a shot at Shakur Stevenson for the interm WBO title at 130 pounds. Nakathila is coming off two stoppage victories, including a brutal sixth-round demolition over Berchelt.
 
Nakathila said, “I’m excited to return to Las Vegas to give Muratalla a boxing lesson he will never forget. The experience will be valuable for his career, though, and I hope he is ready because I have every intention of taking care of business just like I did the last time I was there. It’s a great opportunity, and I’m happy to be back in the ring again on such an attractive card.”

LOS ANGELES (March 30, 2023) — The undisputed lightweight king, Devin “The Dream” Haney, is ready for the pay-per-view spotlight. Haney will defend all the belts against former three-weight world champion and pound-for-pound king Vasiliy “Loma” Lomachenko on Saturday, May 20, at MGM Grand Garden in Arena in Las Vegas.

The two met face-to-face for the first time Thursday in Los Angeles at the official kickoff press conference. Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) will make his second defense as undisputed champion after a pair of victories over George Kambosos Jr. in Australia last year. Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) has won three straight bouts since losing his lightweight titles to Teofimo Lopez in 2020.

Haney vs. Lomachenko will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the exclusive digital distributor for the event in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The PPV will be priced at $59.99 and additionally be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

At the press conference, this is what the fighters and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum had to say.

Bob Arum

“I’ve seen hundreds of great matches over the years. But when I see a match like this, it stirs my blood because it is such an interesting fight to watch. Anyone who considers themself even remotely a boxing fan has to be attracted to this fight. It has all the elements of the great fights of the past. These are two top fighters who have all the skills and determination to make it a great battle. Saturday night on May 20 at the MGM Grand, I’m looking forward to one of the historic fights in the sport of boxing.”

Devin Haney

“I’m blessed to be here. It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of. I’ve been wanting this fight since 2019. I’ve been begging for it and calling for it. The time has finally come. The tables have turned this time around. When he had the belts, he didn’t want to fight me. But it’s a fight where I truly believe I am the better fighter. I’m the better competitor. I will be victorious. I’m happy that the time has finally come.”

“This is a legacy fight for me. Loma at one time was No.1 pound-for-pound. A few months ago, he was higher than me on the pound-for-pound list. Now that the fight has been made, he has dropped off the pound-for-pound list. But it is what it is. We know what type of fighter he is. He deserves to be on the pound-for-pound list. Not above me, but definitely on the list. But this is a legacy fight. This is a real fight. This is not an influencer fight. This is really for the belts. This is for the gold. This is possibly to determine the best in the world as well.”

“The better the opposition, the better I am. Loma is a good fighter. But I’m on a totally different level. On fight night, the world will see that. The world will see how good Devin Haney really is.”

Vasiliy Lomachenko

“I’m excited for May 20. This is my second chance, and I will try my best. Thank you to Team Haney for the opportunity. We are all prepared for this.”

“You can’t think about your future when there’s a war coming to your house. You just think about life and about your family and about the people around you. You think about how you can live another day. You can’t think about your job. You can’t think about a professional sport.”

“We never know what will happen. We can prepare for one strategy, but in the ring it can all change. Right now, I don’t know. I just train hard and prepare. I believe in God and in my team.”

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Devin Haney Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tickets starting at $104, plus applicable service charges, go on sale Friday, March 31 at 10 a.m. PT and will be available to purchase at axs.com.

LAS VEGAS (March 28, 2023) — Two of boxing’s pound-for-pound best will battle for lightweight supremacy as Devin “The Dream” Haney defends his undisputed crown against Ukraine’s three-division world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko on Saturday, May 20, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Haney vs. Lomachenko will stream live on Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV, the exclusive digital distributor for the event in the United States, beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The PPV will be priced at $59.99 and additionally be available via cable and satellite pay-per-view providers.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Devin Haney Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, tickets starting at $104, plus applicable service charges, go on sale Friday, March 31 at 10 a.m. PT and will be available to purchase at axs.com.

“Devin Haney is the sport’s brightest young superstar, and he’s taking on a tremendous challenge against one of this generation’s best pound-for-pound fighters in Vasiliy Lomachenko. This is what boxing is all about,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. “Devin and Loma are sensational boxers, and I’m sure it will be a memorable fight.”

Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) will fight in the U.S. for the first time since defeating George Kambosos Jr. in Australia twice last year to capture and retain the undisputed championship. The 24-year-old has been on a unique path since turning pro in Mexico in 2015 when he was 17. He made his stateside debut on the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley III undercard at MGM Grand Garden Arena in 2016. Following a fourth-round stoppage over then-undefeated Zaur Abdullaev, Haney was awarded the WBC lightweight world championship. He defended that strap against unbeaten contender Alfredo Santiago and former world champions Yuriorkis Gamboa, Jorge Linares and Joseph Diaz Jr. He became the undisputed king last June with a 12-round tour de force in Melbourne in front of more than 40,000 Kambosos supporters. 

“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.”