Devin Haney launches lightweight rival Vasiliy Lomachenko across the podium at the weigh-in

Undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney’s weigh-in with Vasiliy Lomachenko took a somewhat predictable, if chaotic turn in Las Vegas on Friday as he pushed the legendary Ukrainian boxer across the podium.

The two were seen during Friday’s showdown, when Haney surprised everyone by throwing Lomachenko, who appeared to be fine.

“Honestly, this was unforgivable,” tweeted longtime boxing announcer Al Bernstein. “You run the risk of jeopardizing the fight. Easy for Lomachenko to get hurt – sprained ankle, fall, etc. No reason to do this.’

It’s unclear why Haney would turn violent before stepping into the ring with Lomachenko, though he appeared to suggest during Wednesday’s press conference that his 34-year-old fighter is dirty.

“If he wants to turn it into a dirty fight, we’ve got answers,” Haney said.

Devin Haney pushes Vasiliy Lomachenko at the weigh-in in Las Vegas on Friday

: Devin Haney (L) and Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine (R) pose for photos in Las Vegas on Friday

This is the fight Haney wanted four years ago, but in 2019 he was still trying to become champion.

At the time, Lomachenko was seen by many as the best pound-for-pound boxer, and fighting Haney didn’t interest him.

Haney is now the undisputed lightweight champion, and while he wasn’t happy about being passed before – he’s brought it up about 1,000 times – he’s giving Lomachenko a chance. The two will meet in a 12-round bout for the title at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.

“I definitely feel like he should have fought me four years ago,” Haney said. “Four years ago I would have had my chance anyway. But Allah is a perfect planner, and now my time has finally come. It’s going to be worse than four years ago for him.’

Oddsmakers agree. Haney is a min-280 favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Haney, who is from the San Francisco Bay Area and lives in Las Vegas, is 29-0 with 15 knockouts. He holds all four championship belts and rose to become WBC champion in October 2019 after Lomachenko had his title removed.

Haney, 24, became the undisputed champion after winning a one-sided unanimous decision over George Kambosos Jr. in June 2022 in Melbourne. The two fought in Australia in October and the outcome was much the same.

Devin Haney responds to the crowd at a ceremonial weigh-in prior to Saturday’s fight

The irony is that Lomachenko could have fought Kambosos, and his manager, Egis Klimas, was very keen for him to take that fight. But Lomachenko had won two Olympic gold medals boxing for Ukraine, and he didn’t want to stand idly by while his country was attacked by Russia.

Lomachenko told Klimas, “I’m not going. It’s not what I’m thinking about right now. I can’t think about my career. I can’t think about boxing. All I can see now is our country being bombed. People are being killed. Everyone in this country needs me here.’

So Lomachenko enrolled in a territorial defense battalion for Ukraine.

“Many things are more important than the sport of boxing,” said Top Rank CEO Bob Arum. “One is patriotism, especially when your country is scrambling to defend itself against a terrible aggressor. … I salute all the people of Ukraine, and I salute Vasiliy Lomachenko for the stand he took by staying behind to defend his country instead of engaging in combat all over the world in Australia.”

It was Haney’s big break.

“I respect his decision to stay and fight for his country,” Haney said. “It enabled me to get my chance to go to Australia, so it’s only right to give him his chance too.”

Lomachenko, 35, is a former champion in three divisions and he takes a record of 17-2 with 11 KOs in this fight.

Haney started talking nonsense to Lomachenko, who seemed amused before being shoved

The odds are literally against him as he approaches the final stages of his boxing career, but Saturday is a great opportunity to make a huge statement.

“I understand that this is the last chance to remain unchallenged,” Lomachenko said.

Also on the main card is a 10 round junior lightweight bout between two division world champion Oscar Valdez (30-1, 23 KOs) and Adam Lopez (16-4, 6 KOs) and a 10 round lightweight bout between Raymond Muratalla (17 -0, 14 KOs) and Jeremiah Nakathila (23-2, 19 KOs).

The undercard features a 12-round WBO junior bantamweight title fight between Junto Nakatani (24-0, 18 KOs) and Andrew Moloney (25-2, 16 KOs). Should Moloney win, he would join his twin brother Jason as world champion while also becoming the first Australian brothers to hold the belts. Jason Moloney is the WBO bantamweight champion.