LAS VEGAS – Devin Haney isn’t the only one who thinks his upcoming opponent bends boxing’s rules.

Vasiliy Lomachenko and his team intend to ask referee Harvey Dock to ensure that Haney doesn’t get away with too much holding during their 12-round lightweight title fight Saturday night. Haney has been known to initiate clinches at times, which can stifle fighters who try to work on the inside against the rangy Haney.

The undefeated, undisputed 135-pound champion will try to use his height and reach advantages against Lomachenko, who has demonstrated an ability to break free when prior opponents attempted to hold him.

“We’re ready for this,” Lomachenko told BoxingScene.com. “I’m gonna be ready [when Haney holds].”

Egis Klimas, Lomachenko’s manager, will stress this issue with Dock when they receive their pre-fight instructions in Lomachenko’s locker room at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“Look, we can’t predict what he’s gonna do in the ring,” Klimas said. “Vasiliy is ready for anything he’s gonna come in with. But, of course, we’re gonna ask the referee to look into the holding. But a lot of referees are different. Some referees are letting [fighters] hold. Others are not letting them hold.”

Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) attracted attention during fight week when he called Lomachenko “a dirty fighter” while they walked from one promotional appearance to another at MGM Grand. The Henderson, Nevada resident repeatedly stated that Lomachenko’s game plan is predicated on hitting Haney after Dock calls for breaks when they’re tied up (https://www.boxingscene.com/haney-tells-lomachenko-he-wants-make-it-dirty-fight-you-know-s-your-best-bet--174661).

Ukraine’s Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) and Klimas dismissed Haney’s claim that the three-division champion fights dirty.

“Maybe you better ask him,” Lomachenko told a group of reporters when asked why Haney called him a dirty fighter. “I don’t know how to explain it because I don’t understand what he’s talking about.”

Lomachenko seemed genuinely dumbfounded by Haney’s accusations.

“We have the referee in the ring,” Lomachenko said. “And, of course, if you do something dirty, of course it’s not right. But I always try to stay a clean fighter.”

Klimas couldn’t recall any previous opponent calling Lomachenko a dirty fighter. If it was a psychological ploy by Haney to distract Lomachenko, Klimas promised it won’t work.

“Look, we know boxing is also [partly] a mind game,” Klimas said. “Maybe he’s planning to make sure Loma is gonna try to be not dirty, not to think about the fight … but all of this, it’s in the past. It’s in the past because you can’t get into his head. I guarantee you – there’s nothing [that] can get into his head.

“When he goes into the ring, he’s concentrated. You can talk whatever you wanna talk. He’s gonna forget about everything but about the fight. So, more power to them. If they’re trying to get into his head, let them burn energy on that.”

Haney, 24, and Lomachenko, 35, will fight for Haney’s IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO 135-pound championships in their ESPN Pay-Per-View main event (10 p.m. EDT; 7 p.m. PDT; $59.99).

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.