The ongoing digital squabbling between Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney reached a stalemate Wednesday when they both appeared to agree to a catchweight fight at 144lbs.
Haney, after previously holding titles at lightweight and junior welterweight, now campaigns at 147lbs where he holds the WBO title.
Stevenson, meanwhile, holds that organisation’s belt at 140lbs. He’s also a former champion at featherweight, junior lightweight and lightweight.
Haney had previously responded positively on social media to an invite to fight from Keyshawn Davis, his mandatory at welterweight, on June 3. Then, when Davis later exclaimed that a fight with Haney would be the biggest of the year, the welterweight beltholder responded with, “Me vs Shakur is the biggest. Our fight would be big tho”.
Stevenson took the bait: “And let me guess I gotta come to your weight class to make the fight happen just because you say so?”
“Whenever you come to ‘my weight class’ let’s do it,” Haney replied. “I’ll fight your brother Keyshawn for now…”
But Stevenson, 25-0 (11 KOs), had a better suggestion. Meet in the middle.
“144 is fair for 2 champions in 2 separate weight classes, Floyd [Mayweather] and Canelo [Alvarez] made one of the biggest fights ever happen at a catch weight… If y’all seriously wanted the fight it would be easy to make. Y’all fought Jose Ramirez at that weight 2 fights ago.”
Haney, 33-0-1NC (15 KOs), seemed to like that idea. “If I come to 144… We have a fight?”
The response from Stevenson was succinct and to the point: “Yes”.
Moments later he added: “FIGHTER OF THE YEAR ME AFTER THIS!!”
