Shakur Stevenson has set his sights on a potential showdown with Devin Haney, but the newly crowned WBO super-lightweight champion insists there’s only one way the fight happens. The American star believes a catchweight clash between the two would fill a major venue and produce fireworks, provided his rival agrees to meet him halfway on the scales.
Fresh off his commanding performance against Teofimo Lopez in January, where he claimed the WBO world super-lightweight title with a dominant points victory, Stevenson has emerged as one of boxing’s most talked-about names. The win marked his ascension to four-division world champion status, cementing his place among the sport’s elite at just 28 years old.
Our sources indicate that Stevenson wasted no time calling out potential opponents following his Lopez triumph. The Newark native initially set his sights on Conor Benn, who secured a unanimous decision over Regis Prograis at 150lbs last weekend. However, Stevenson’s attention has since shifted to other high-profile names in the welterweight and super-lightweight divisions.
Among those names is Ryan Garcia, the current WBC world welterweight champion. Yet Stevenson has made it clear he won’t be rushing up to 147lbs anytime soon, proposing instead a catchweight bout at 144lbs. Garcia appears to have dismissed this proposition, leaving the door open for Stevenson to explore other lucrative matchups.
Shakur Stevenson open to Devin Haney fight at catchweight
Enter Haney, who recently secured a unanimous decision victory over Brian Norman Jr in November, capturing Norman’s WBO world welterweight title in the process. The fight came on the heels of what many observers described as an underwhelming showing against Jose Ramirez, though Haney bounced back with a more convincing performance against Norman.
What’s caught Stevenson’s attention is that Haney has already competed at the exact catchweight he’s proposing. ‘The Dream’ faced Ramirez at 144lbs two fights ago, making it a realistic meeting point for both fighters if negotiations were to move forward.
Speaking with boxing journalist Ariel Helwani, Stevenson laid out his terms in no uncertain fashion. The pound-for-pound contender emphasised that the catchweight isn’t up for discussion, suggesting he’d rather stay at 140lbs or potentially drop back down to lightweight if the conditions aren’t met.
“Haney fought at a catchweight against Jose Ramirez two fights ago, and it was 144lbs, so I would love to [fight Haney] at 144lbs – we can meet in the middle,” Stevenson explained. He added that the commercial appeal of the matchup would transcend the need for a world title to be at stake.
The confidence radiating from Stevenson isn’t misplaced. Both fighters command significant attention in the boxing world, with devoted fanbases and proven track records against elite-level opposition. As we reported following Stevenson’s victory over Lopez, the American has steadily built his reputation as one of the most technically gifted fighters in the sport today.
“I don’t think a belt has to be on the line; I think the fight is big enough for both of us to be fighting at a catchweight,” Stevenson insisted. He believes the bout could “sell out a big arena” and deliver what he described as a “tremendous fight” for fans worldwide.
The challenge, however, lies in whether Haney would accept these terms. The three-weight world champion has previously campaigned at 135lbs but has since moved up through the divisions. Making 144lbs at this stage of his career could prove difficult, particularly as Haney has reportedly considered another move up to 154lbs in the near future.
For South African boxing fans eager to see elite-level matchups materialise, this potential clash represents the kind of competitive fight that’s become increasingly rare in modern boxing. Both fighters possess slick defensive skills, high ring IQs, and the technical prowess to make for a fascinating chess match inside the ropes.
Whether Haney ultimately agrees to Stevenson’s catchweight proposal remains to be seen. For now, Stevenson appears content to hold firm on his position, confident that the fight’s commercial potential and competitive intrigue would make it worthwhile for both parties. If the bout does come to fruition at 144lbs, it would undoubtedly rank among the most anticipated matchups in the sport.