Boxing fans want to see the best fight the best – it’s just unfortunate that politics, commercial interests and self-preservation tend to get in the way of that happening.
But if the premier pugilists in the lightweight division can be persuaded to go toe-to-toe in 2024, fans of the sweet science are in for a stellar year.
As per the pound-for-pound rankings, four of the top 15 fighters on the planet campaign in the 135lb division – and they should, in theory, be on a collision course in the year ahead.
Best vs The Best
There’s no concrete news on when any of Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, Vasiliy Lomachenko or Shakur Stevenson will sign terms to fight one of the other lightweight stars, with the sport betting odds suggesting that Haney (1/10) will take on Sandor Martin (6/1) next and Lomachenko (2/9) potentially tackling George Kambosos Jr (10/3) instead.
Sites like the Paddy Power News channel will be the first to update fight fans on the next moves of this classy lightweight quartet, with Haney’s return to the ring perhaps most eagerly anticipated of all.
The 25-year-old has already defeated Lomachenko, of course, albeit via a controversial judges’ decision back in May, when many observers felt that the Ukrainian should have got the nod given his status as the bout’s aggressor. A rematch one day is not out of the question.
I’ve advised my team to contact team Haney to discuss and make the fight happen between Devin and I #GarciaHaney
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) December 20, 2023
The challenge for promoters now will be to tempt Haney back down to lightweight – he defeated Regis Prograis for the super-lightweight title in December, and a clash with Teofimo Lopez down the line is now a distinct possibility after Ryan Garcia pulled out of a meeting with ‘The Dream’.
As for Lomachenko, he is ranked so favourably by the various sanctioning bodies that a world title clash in 2024 seems inevitable – potentially against fellow countryman Denys Berinchyk, although it’s thought that the two are good friends, which may scupper such plans.
Going for Gold
Haney’s ambition to step up in weight will likely scupper what many believe would be a dream fight for 2024 – the former undisputed lightweight king versus the current WBA champion, Gervonta Davis.
The Tank, as is nicknamed after winning 27 of his 29 fights by knockout, is a nightmare opponent in the lightweight category, having already stepped up to defeat Garcia at catchweight – his punch power at 135lb has so far proven unstoppable, albeit against a lower-grade of opposition than his peers.
All of which leaves us with Stevenson, who at the age of just 26 has already held world titles in three different weight classes – although his fights aren’t always the most entertaining, with his title clash with Edwin De Los Santos in November actually breaking records for the fewest punches thrown.
Shakur Stevenson vs Edwin De Los Santos history-making CompuBox punch stats:
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) November 17, 2023
Shakur Stevenson vs Edwin De Los Santos history-making CompuBox punch stats:
Total jabs landed/thrown:
Shakur – 46/155
As such, fans aren’t all that sweet on the man known as ‘Sugar’, meaning that he boasts less box office appeal – in modern boxing, don’t underestimate how important that is to getting fights made.
So the lightweight division is in a state of flux, although Haney vs Davis and Stevenson vs Lomachenko would certainly go some way to establishing the 135lb category as the best in boxing in 2024.