Devin Haney-Shakur Stevenson talks advance but weight dispute remains

Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson are in “advanced discussions” over a fight that would put Haney’s WBO welterweight title at stake, according to an official connected to the negotiations speaking to BoxingScene.

The weight remains unresolved. Haney, 33-0 (15 KOs), wants the contest at the welterweight limit of 147lbs without a rehydration clause, while Stevenson, 25-0 (11 KOs), has continued to push for a 144lb catchweight after fighting just once at 140lbs.

The official expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached, although the fighters’ public exchanges have yet to produce a compromise. Stevenson sought to move the talks away from social media when he wrote: “Let’s scrap the online negotiations. Let’s drop our nuts in front of the world and make the biggest and best fight in boxing.”

Both men have won world titles in multiple divisions and are regularly listed among the leading pound-for-pound fighters. Haney, 27, became a three-weight champion by defeating Brian Norman Jnr for the WBO welterweight belt in November 2025. Stevenson, 29, claimed a title in his fourth division when he beat Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super-lightweight championship on January 31.

The 144lb dispute

The camps held substantial talks during the summer, when Stevenson proposed 144lbs as a compromise between his 140lb division and Haney’s welterweight limit. Haney publicly asked whether accepting that weight would secure the fight, and Stevenson replied: “Yes.”

The negotiations were complicated by Haney’s obligation to face WBO mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis. The sanctioning body said Haney could choose to fight Stevenson instead but would have to relinquish his title. Stevenson wanted Haney to vacate before their contest was finalised, while Haney’s team maintained that the belt would not be surrendered without a completed deal.

Bill Haney subsequently claimed Stevenson had not responded to the proposed 144lb agreement. Stevenson disputed that account, insisting: “My part been signed.”

The WBO later ordered Haney-Davis and moved the mandatory fight towards a purse bid after the parties failed to agree terms. Davis has since been linked to a contest with IBF super-lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins, but the WBO has not formally cleared Haney to defend against Stevenson.

That leaves the championship status as a separate issue from the weight negotiations. While the current discussions envisage Haney’s WBO belt being at stake, a voluntary defence against Stevenson would require approval from the sanctioning body unless the situation involving Davis is resolved.

Haney had also been linked to a unification fight with IBF champion Liam Paro. He was recently reported to be considering a November 28 return in Atlanta, although it is unclear whether that date and location would be available for Stevenson.

Stevenson has explored several alternatives since defeating Lopez. A proposed fight with Manny Pacquiao on the December 11 Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua card in Cardiff did not advance. An official involved in that event said funding “two eight-figure fighters” on an already expensive Netflix card was not viable.

A super-lightweight unification with WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell was also discussed. Russell’s brother and trainer, Gary Russell Jnr, said an offer worth less than $2 million had been generated, but Gary Antuanne disputed reports that his team had received a $2 million proposal and said that figure would not be enough.

A Haney fight would be Stevenson’s first since signing with Zuffa Boxing in July and his promotional debut for the company. Before a date and venue can be finalised, the camps still have to settle the weight and determine whether the WBO title can remain attached to the contest.