By Jake Donovan
You can count Devin Haney among the most interested observers for this weekend's three-belt lightweight attraction.
The unbeaten contender continues to prepare for his Sept. 13 lightweight title eliminator versus Russia's Zaur Abdullaev (11-0, 7KOs), with the winner due to face whomever prevails in Saturday's unification clash between Vasilily Lomachenko (13-1, 10KOs) and Luke Campbell (20-2, 16KOs) in London, England.
Three different sanctioning bodies will have their belts at stake in Saturday's contest, which marks Lomachenko's first trip to the United Kingdom since turning pro in 2013. Fighting in England was a bucket list items for the Ukrainian southpaw, having claimed Olympic Gold there in 2012 after earning the same honor four years prior in Beijing. Many have him pegged to easily prevail with one more title in tow than the two he already brings to the fight, although not everyone quite sees it that way.
"I definitely don't think either guy will score a knockout," Haney (22-0, 14KOs) told BoxingScene.com in assessing the fight, which streams live on ESPN+ in the United States and airs live on Sky Sports Box Office in the United Kingdom. "Luke Campbell can present some problems, especially early in the fight. He's got skills, and he's got the height (5'9" to Lomachenko's 5'7") and reach (71", a 5 1/2" advantage) over Lomachenko.
"I think it will be a good fight, even if Campbell doesn't win. I believe Lomachenko will win, but it will go to a decision. He won't knock out (Campbell). Neither guy will get the kncokout. It will go the distance."
Haney was once believed to be directly in line for the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) title in a straightaway fight with England's Campbell. The British southpaw instead landed a much tougher assignment in Lomachenko, a three-division and reigning unified (WBO and WBA) lightweight titlist whom successfully petitioned the WBC to allow him to fight for its vacant belt.
The move left Haney to fight in an official eliminator with Abdullaev, a backup plan to the WBC's original proposal of a four-man box-off that was to also include unbeaten contender Teofimo Lopez and former titlist Javier Fortuna. That mini-tournament never saw the light of day, as the Haney vs. Abdullaev winner from Madison Square Garden's Hulu Theater—which will stream live on DAZN—will be named the mandatory challenger to whomever walks out of the ring on Saturday with three belts, and in particular the WBC strap.
"That's definitely what we signed up for," notes Haney. "We signed with Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn with the intention of fighting for a world title right away. We thought it would happen with this fight but we respect the process and are prepared to go through Abdullaev in order to get to that point."
As for whom he expects to face—the luxury of knowing the winner by the time he enters the ring on Sept. 13 is good enough.
"I like the idea that once I win, I already know who to call out next," confesses Haney, fully focused on his own task at hand but still confident enough in his own abilities to begin to plan ahead. "I expect it to be Lomachenko but let's see what happens on Saturday."
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
