Stephen A. Smith slams ‘bulls**t’ decision’ with ESPN star outraged over Haney-Lomachenko scorecards
ESPN star personality Stephen A. Smith was unhappy with the decision made in the super-fight between Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko.
The 55-year-old expressed concerns over the scorecards having Haney defeating Lomachenko unanimously.
Haney, 24, retained his undisputed lightweight championship belt over Lomachenko on Saturday, and Stephen A was outraged.
The First Take co-host took to Twitter to voice his displeasure.
When the fight ended, and the results were awaiting, Stephen A tweeted praising the battle.
"This Haney vs. Lomachenko fight was a damn good one. I honestly don't know who won the fight."
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"It was that close. It's one of those fights that if it ended in a DRAW, I honestly can't be mad!"
But that quickly changed when the results came in — and he was mad.
Stephen A sounded off on the scoring and couldn't believe one judge scored the fight so lopsided in favor of Haney.
"That's a bulls**t decision. Haney may have won, but it was barely."
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"There should not have been a 116-112 score or a 115-113 call. It was that close."
The superstar boxers went all 12 rounds in a very close contest.
It was a highly competitive back-and-forth fight in front of a sold-out crowd at the MGM Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The fight was full of momentum swings. Haney started the match attacking the body controlling much of the early rounds.
Lomachenko fought and had some grand rounds late in the fight.
Smith wasn't alone in his frustration with the ruling.
Lomachenko's manager, Egas Klimas, said it was a "robbery" and that they would appeal the decision.
"This is the biggest robbery in the middle of the day, and for the other team, Christmas came in the summer," Klimas said.
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We're not going to let this go."
"I guarantee we're going to protest. I guarantee we're going to appeal that decision because somebody needs to end this injustice."