Comments Thread For: Daily Bread Mailbag: Devin Haney, the career of Josh Taylor, scoring, and why there are no longer non-title fights

[Mark Elding]

It's not the losses that bother me , it's the small amount of fights. It's not like Lomachenko was getting beat up in his fights and needed huge recovery time. I just think that his career would have been a lot better if he had fought a lot more. Staying amateur so long did not do his professional career any favors either. As good as he was he could have been a huge star. There are a bunch of really good fighters now who I think are going to be wishing that they had fought a lot more when their careers are over. Especially these days with so many things competing for our attention , it's easy to forget a guy who only fights once a year, no matter how good they are. I'm not questioning how great he was , Lomachenko was incredible , when he got in a groove it was like watching a magician . He was absolutely brilliant.

Fair critique and very well put.

I’m just more inclined to give Loma’s shallow numbers in the pro ranks a pass. Almost 400 amateur bouts, many at elite international level, was insane. He was never going to have a really extensive pro career after all that, and whilst I agree he could have been more active during the first few years, the ambition he showed was still unprecedented. Faced a legit fringe contender in his debut, experienced world class vet in his second outing, and on it continued. I understand he wanted to challenge for a world title in his debut but Arum insisted on one fight first. I actually believe Loma could have won a world title in his very first outing, providing the situation wasn’t blatantly rigged against him, as it was with the Salido debacle.

It’s also cruelly significant that Loma’s injuries coincided with his last, rapid rise in weight to exclusively face naturally bigger men. Beating down a peak form Linares who reportedly outweighed him by 12lbs in the ring, while suffering from a torn labrum, was incredible and grossly under-valued. But Lopez was a different beast, and a near repeat of that injury was always going to be a disaster.

[Mark Elding]

I agree. Loma had all the talent in the world and it was a treat to watch him. One thing I noticed though. In the fights against Salido and Teo he gave them way too much respect early in the fight and started his run too late. He could have drowned both guys if he was a bit more courageous early on and trusted his skills and stamina. I think he beat Haney.

By the way, decent mail bag from Breadman. I agree with 90% of his commentary and many of his favourite fighters are also my favourite fighters. The only thing I don't agree is his evaluation of Devin Haney. In his last fight he was running all the way even though Ramirez tried to make a fight out of it. Why? Because when he tried to walk Ryan down and abandon his usual modus operandi, he paid the price.

I believe Loma’s claim that he screwed his lead shoulder again at the close of the second round v Lopez. There’s evidence of that, and I think he banked everything on being excessively careful for the rest of the first half, then drowning him in the second. He really wasn’t far off.

And I throw out the Salido decision. Lomachenko was treated absolutely disgracefully. Massive asterisk against that one.

[CPNUTKnockoutFreshMart]

I agree. Loma had all the talent in the world and it was a treat to watch him. One thing I noticed though. In the fights against Salido and Teo he gave them way too much respect early in the fight and started his run too late. He could have drowned both guys if he was a bit more courageous early on and trusted his skills and stamina. I think he beat Haney.

By the way, decent mail bag from Breadman. I agree with 90% of his commentary and many of his favourite fighters are also my favourite fighters. The only thing I don't agree is his evaluation of Devin Haney. In his last fight he was running all the way even though Ramirez tried to make a fight out of it. Why? Because when he tried to walk Ryan down and abandon his usual modus operandi, he paid the price.

I agree , Lomachenkos tendency to start slow and give away early rounds cost him the Teofimo and HankyThe,Christmas Poo fights. It drives me nuts when guys fight like the early rounds don't matter. Every round is scored independently and they all matter the same. Warming up is why you come to the arena early , when the bell rings you need to be ready to go and don't give any rounds away.

[CPNUTKnockoutFreshMart]

I believe Loma’s claim that he screwed his lead shoulder again at the close of the second round v Lopez. There’s evidence of that, and I think he banked everything on being excessively careful for the rest of the first half, then drowning him in the second. He really wasn’t far off.

And I throw out the Salido decision. Lomachenko was treated absolutely disgracefully. Massive asterisk against that one.

People tend to forget that it was a really close fight with Teoloco and that Lomachenko had surgery straight after. He definitely could have won a title in his first professional fight , Uncle Bob should have let him try.
You have good commentary. Glad to see you on this board.