The MGM Grand Garden Arena is no stranger to high-stakes championship bouts. Over the years, fans have packed into the historic arena to watch Canelo Alvarez challenge Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Evander Holyfield fight Mike Tyson. On May 20, 2023, fans filed into the venue to watch Devin Haney and Vasyl Lomachenk go toe-to-toe for 12 rounds in a chess match for the undisputed lightweight championship. After the final sounded, all three judges scored the bout in favor of Haney. However, many fans and fighters felt that he won the match. In fact, some went as far as to call it a robbery. During the post-fight press conference, the Bay Area native countered those who may have felt he lost the fight.
“At the end of the day, the people can say what they want to say. The judges had a unanimous decision. That’s all that matters. Each judge was on the same page when it came to that decision, so I got the victory,” Haney said.
Prior to Haney’s time with the press after the bout, Vasyl Lomachenko and his manager, Egis Klimas, said that he will appeal tonight’s decision.
“I’m going to say it just like it is,” Klimas told reporters.
“This is the biggest robbery in the middle of the day. For the other team, Christmas came in the summer. We’re not going to let it go. I guarantee that we are going to protest [the decision]. I guarantee we are going to appeal the decision.”
