Shakur Stevenson says Devin Haney Is Set Vacate WBO Belt & Face Him At 144 lb

Shakur Stevenson says Devin Haney has become his leading target for his Zuffa Boxing debut, but Haney’s WBO welterweight mandatory obligations continue to complicate any move towards a 144lb catchweight fight.

Stevenson, who was officially announced by Zuffa Boxing on July 9, said on DAZN’s Inside The Ring that he now wants Haney next after public back-and-forth involving Haney and his father, Bill Haney. “I wasn’t really thinking about Devin, but out of nowhere, him and [his father] Bill Haney started calling my name,” Stevenson said. “So since they started calling my name, I’m a guy who likes to answer phone calls. Devin right now is my No. 1 priority.”

The unbeaten WBO junior-welterweight champion has also identified Gervonta “Tank” Davis as a major fight near the top of his list, but his immediate focus is Haney, with whom he traded words on social media before the pair agreed publicly on X in early June to meet at 144lbs. Stevenson believes Haney could vacate the WBO welterweight title to allow that fight to proceed, saying: “I’m hearing that Devin was going to vacate the belt, and once he vacates the belt, we’re gonna fight at 144 pounds. I think it’s gonna be an amazing fight. I think Devin is one of the best fighters in the sport, and for me to go beat Teofimo and then Devin right after, I think there’s no question that you could call me the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport of boxing.”

WBO order tightens Haney’s position

Haney’s situation is now tied directly to the WBO’s formal order for him to negotiate a mandatory defence against Keyshawn Davis. The sanctioning body issued that order on June 30, giving Team Haney and Top Rank, who represent Davis, 20 days to reach terms before purse bid proceedings can begin.

The deadline is July 20, although either side can request an immediate purse bid before the negotiation period expires. The order was addressed to Bill Haney on behalf of Team Haney and Bob Arum on behalf of Davis and Top Rank, moving what had been a developing sanctioning issue into a defined title-fight process.

That order followed WBO president Gustavo Olivieri’s June 22 confirmation that Haney had been instructed to face Davis next and would not receive an exception to pursue another bout. The WBO had already informed both sides that Haney’s mandatory welterweight defence was due in August 2026, with the champion at risk of losing the title if he did not accept the Davis fight.

Bill Haney had signalled respect for the WBO while making clear that Team Haney viewed public demand for Haney-Stevenson as a priority, with Davis positioned as the next route if that fight could not be made. The sanctioning body’s order leaves Haney with a clear choice: progress towards the Davis mandatory, request or face a purse bid, or give up the title Stevenson expects him to vacate.

Haney won the WBO welterweight title by unanimous decision over Brian Norman Jr in Riyadh in November 2025, after defeating Jose Carlos Ramirez earlier that year. His 2024 bout with Ryan Garcia was later recorded as a no contest, leaving him unbeaten at 33-0 with one no contest.

Davis, also unbeaten, is the WBO’s No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger at welterweight after moving up from lower divisions. His recent run includes winning the WBO lightweight title against Denys Berinchyk, stopping Jamaine Ortiz in January, and defeating Nahir Albright over 12 rounds in Norfolk on May 16, while his move in weight has been linked to previous difficulty making lightweight and increasingly demanding cuts around 140lbs.

Stevenson enters the picture after becoming a four-division champion with a dominant unanimous decision over Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden on January 31. His signing with Zuffa Boxing made him the second active world champion on the company’s roster, and Haney has also been linked to the new promotional venture, though no agreement between Haney and Zuffa has been reached.

If Haney and Davis do not file an agreement by July 20, or if either side asks sooner, the WBO is expected to send the mandatory fight to purse bid. That deadline now shapes the next phase: Haney must either continue towards a title defence against Davis or create the opening Stevenson says would lead to a 144lb fight.