Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney had been linked to a catchweight showdown in recent weeks, and while it seems that the bout may not happen, boxing legend Roy Jones Jr has still shared his thoughts on the proposed battle.
Stevenson signed with Zuffa Boxing in July, but failed talks with Haney look to have been the straw that broke the camel’s back, as Stevenson has had his request for an immediate release from his contract approved, without ever fighting under Dana White’s promotional banner.
As a result, some fight fans are believing that a 144lb catchweight clash between Stevenson and Haney could be back on the cards, with both men currently without a scheduled bout and each keen to prove that they are the United States’ best pound-for-pound fighter.
However, speaking on the Hall of Game podcast, Jones Jr declared that the fight should not happen if it is not for either Stevenson’s WBO super-lightweight title or Haney’s WBO welterweight crown.
“If we are going to fight for Haney’s 147lb title, we should fight at 147lbs. If we are going to fight for Shakur’s 140lb title, we should fight at 140lbs.
“If we can’t fight for somebody’s title, then we shouldn’t fight, because Haney shouldn’t have to come down to 144lbs and Shakur shouldn’t have to come up to 144lbs. Either we are going to fight at 140 or we are going to fight at 147lbs.
“If we are not going to do one of those two things, then we should move on and go to other places.
“Forget that catchweight. We are either fighting for the 140lb title or we are fighting for the 147lb title.”
Having founded his own promotional company, it remains to be seen whether Stevenson will follow in Haney’s footsteps and sign a deal to fight on DAZN in the near future.
