The chances of seeing Devin Haney take on Shakur Stevenson have been dealt a major blow.
Haney and Stevenson have been linked to a fight with one another in recent weeks, as each man looks to plan their respective next moves following arguable career-best wins last time out.
Back in November, Haney successfully stepped up to 147lbs and defeated Brian Norman Jr by unanimous decision to win the WBO welterweight title, becoming a three-division world champion in the process.
Stevenson was able to go one better than that in January, when he moved up to 140lbs and claimed a unanimous decision victory over Teofimo Lopez to secure the WBO super-lightweight title and earn world honours in a fourth division.
The opportunity to becoming a five-division world champion could then have been presented to Stevenson if he was to head to welterweight to challenge Haney for his WBO crown, but any potential clash now wouldn’t be for that title.
That is due to comments made by WBO President Gustavo Olivieri, who told Cigar Talk that Haney must face mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis next, and will now be allowed an exemption to take on Stevenson instead.
“As of now, what I can confirm is that Haney has to discharge his mandatory against Keyshawn.
“At this stage, at this juncture, it cannot be allowed as an exception because there’s a mandatory pending.”
Former WBO lightweight champion Davis has competed at 140lbs in his last two bouts, but has made it clear that he would move up to welterweight for the chance to meet Haney after being installed as mandatory.
It means that ‘The Dream’ must make a decision soon on his next outing, whether he will defend his belt against Davis, or choose to vacate in order to pursue a possible clash with Stevenson.
