Haney vs Lomachenko, what is your prediction?

[nino brown21]

Heart says like loma , mind says haney .

[crimsonfalcon07]

I don't think Haney's holding would work with Loma, who could slip punches during a hold. And Loma have a way of anticipating it before it happens. We'll see soon.

Agreed. Loma has a very developed clinch game for a boxer. Most people here don't seem to know the techniques for that, and Haney won't have seen it in the ring before, which matters a lot because timing is essential.

Some of the things we'll definitely see for those who don't know what we're talking about:

When Haney goes to hang on and drop his weight on Loma, Loma will drop into a squat and try to pull his arms free. That means Haney will either fall forward and have to catch himself, at which point Loma will take an angle and light him up, or else he'll be forced to support Loma's weight on his biceps. Over time, that's going to slow his jab and make it harder to keep his guard up.

Loma will seek dominant head position (top of head against cheek, in position to either stifle the rear uppercut, or make it impossible via body position. He'll use his shoulders to make it harder to hold him and try to circle to the T-position (Haney's shoulder in Loma's centerline). If he can't do that, he's going to tuck his head up under Haney's jawline to keep him upright, and pop him with overhead hooks. If he feels Haney's position alter, he'll shift to the T and hook him in the face and side/back of head as he turns. He's going to keep his weight in very tight, so Haney can't catch himself on that angle, which makes it easier to score a knockdown.

If Haney is putting his weight on him, he'll either use his head against jaw to put that weight into Haney's jaw, or he'll drop down abruptly so Haney falls and has to catch himself. That makes the weight draping tactic a lot less likely and helps preserve his legs.

And if Haney tries to disengage by pulling back, he'll use a split entry cross to stay on top of him and take his favored T position.

All of that requires a lot of time training sensitivity to movement more than the usual tuck in and trade uppercuts and hooks. Haney probably will have seen it in watching tape unless he's a moron, but that's still a lot different from facing it in the ring, and there aren't many who have an inside game like Loma's.

[Madison Boxing]

haney to win but a lot less impressively than people think, be 115/113, 116/112 with lots of hugs and clinches. as i said in the other thread i dont really understand why fighters like loma decide they are going to handicap themselves by fighting people a lot bigger than themselves

[rickJen]

I don't think Haney's holding would work with Loma, who could slip punches during a hold. And Loma have a way of anticipating it before it happens. We'll see soon.

Haven't heard Lomachenko talked about Haney's holding and hugging, so you might be right, he believes he could handle it.

[Bullrider]

Anyone changed their prediction yet? I haven't. I agree with the comment that Haney has to KO Loma to win the fight. Loma performed poorly in his last fight, but so what? If that's what boxing is all about, then fighters at 35 need to get out of the sport and retire.

I'm still predicting a Loma victory.

[Bullrider]

Only nine days left to go. Are the odds still the same?

[ColdBlooded]

Haney was against the ropes and in corners for so much of his fight against Diaz. Lomachenko should be able to get past the jab fairly easily and time lefts on the fairly stationary Haney.

[rickJen]

Haney has to KO Loma, otherwise that size and youth advantage will be put to nought.

[Silence]

Loma by UD everyday

[Bullrider]

Four days left to go. Will the fight live up to expectations? Will this turn out to be a cat and mouse game with nothing spectacular happening throughout the entire fight?