After sharing twelve rounds with Devin Haney, Regis Prograis has weighed in on how his former rival may fare against Shakur Stevenson.
With both Stevenson and Haney recently linked to a move to Zuffa Boxing, plus an ongoing back-and-forth, a fight between the two American pound-for-pound operators seems to be edging closer, even despite the weight difference between them.
Stevenson has only fought once at super-lightweight – a standout win against Teofimo Lopez – and could likely make lightweight again. Haney, on the other hand, is now at welterweight, and his days of making anything beneath the 147 limit may be over.
Speaking to Mill City Boxing, Prograis – who Haney knocked down and beat on the cards in 2023 – said that, despite feeling his former foe is ‘too big’ for the fight, he still edges towards a Stevenson win.
“I don’t think they’ll fight because Haney’s too big. I’m not saying Shakur’s a little guy, but Shakur is small compared to Devin.
“They really have similar styles, Devin’s just a bigger version. Shakur’s left-handed, I think a little more skilled for me. But if they fought, I would still say Shakur, just because of the left-handed style. It’ll be close. Nobody’s gonna knock the other out, it would just be a boxing match. I don’t see nobody getting hurt. I don’t think it’d be that exciting. I go for Shakur, but if Devin wins or draws, I wouldn’t be surprised.”
Stevenson has proposed either a catchweight of 144lbs or 147lbs with a rehydration clause, but Haney is intent on not giving the smaller man any sort of advantage, and will seemingly only take the fight if it is at welterweight with no stipulation. That condition may be the sticking point to an all-American super-fight.
