Devin Haney-Liam Paro welterweight unification targeted for December 19

Devin Haney and Liam Paro have agreed terms for a WBO-IBF welterweight title unification fight in the United States on 19 December, although contracts have not yet been signed and several details remain unresolved.

Dan Rafael reported that both camps had confirmed the agreement after Mike Coppinger revealed on Inside The Ring that a deal had been reached for the bout to take place in the US before the end of the year. A host city and venue have yet to be determined.

If the fight is finalised, Haney will defend his WBO title against IBF champion Paro. Both men won welterweight belts in their most recent appearances.

Haney, 27, has not fought since defeating Brian Norman Jnr by unanimous decision in Saudi Arabia last November. The victory earned Haney the WBO belt and made the Oakland fighter, 33-0 (15 KOs) with one no-contest, a three-division champion.

Paro, 30, claimed the IBF title by outpointing Lewis Crocker in Australia in June. The Queensland southpaw, 28-1 (16 KOs), has won three consecutive fights since losing his IBF super-lightweight title to Richardson Hitchins in December 2024. The proposed meeting with Haney would be his first defence at 147lbs.

October talks became contentious

No Limit had been pursuing a major fight for Paro since August, but negotiations with Haney initially centred on an October date and soon spilled into public.

Reports that Paro and his promoters were demanding too much money led former champion Timothy Bradley to ask: “Did Liam Paro price himself out? Is that another form of duck?” Bradley added: “That’s another form of ducking right there.”

Paro rejected that version of events and accused Haney of avoiding the unification. “Haney is ducking me,” he told Fox Sports Australia. “I’ve said I’m good to fight by the end of October, and we ain’t heard a thing.”

The Australian also made clear that location would not be an obstacle. “I’ll fight him next no worries. You know I’ll fight anyone. And I’ve proved that my whole career,” Paro said. “I’ll fight him in his backyard or mine. I’m the IBF welterweight champion. This is a big unification fight with a lot on the line.”

Paro later used social media to deny that he had priced himself out of possible fights with Haney or WBC champion Ryan Garcia.

“Here’s the truth — I’ve accepted BOTH fights. My team has been reasonable on the money and I’ll fight either man any day of the week. I’m a proven two-division world champion. I don’t duck anybody,” he wrote, before addressing Haney directly: “@Realdevinhaney — you want to unify? Let’s do it.”

No Limit promoter George Rose said Paro was prepared to change his existing plans if the right deal could be made. “We have plans in place for Liam and, originally, Haney wasn’t in those,” Rose said. “But after speaking with Team Paro, they’ve indicated to us that if we can get the right deal done, it’s the big fight they want.”

Stevenson negotiations broke down

Haney’s move towards Paro follows the collapse of talks with unbeaten WBO super-lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. Those discussions focused on a 28 November DAZN pay-per-view fight, potentially in Atlanta, but the sides could not agree on weight, a rehydration clause and money.

Stevenson had been willing to move up to the 147lb limit if both fighters were restricted to 157lbs on the morning of the contest. Haney instead proposed a 145lb fight without a rehydration limit. Stevenson later agreed to those terms, but the negotiations still fell apart.

Both fighters blamed the other. Haney said Stevenson “went ghost” and added: “I am the champion and decided to go down (to 145) when (I didn’t have to because) I have a very lucrative deal with DAZN.”

Stevenson subsequently left Zuffa Boxing without fighting under its banner and said he planned to remain at lightweight or super-lightweight for the immediate future.

Haney and Paro still need to finalise their contracts and agree on the remaining terms before a US venue and undercard can be confirmed.