Talks have collapsed once again between Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney, with the fight weight being the sticking point.
After their first attempt to make the fight earlier this year failed, both Stevenson and Haney recently posted positive updates about the progress.
Haney – who would ideally remain at 147lbs – said he would agree to a 145lbs catchweight, and Shakur – not keen on a full welterweight move yet – signalled that he would accept those terms without a rehydration clause.
It perhaps came as little surprise to fans, however, when those public negotiations fell apart once more, and both men are now looking at other options.
For four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jr, it is important that Haney does not drain himself to fight below 147. That puts Stevenson out of the picture, and Jones told All The Smoke Fight that the Newark southpaw should instead target a long-awaited clash with Gervonta Davis.
“Shakur, I know what you’re saying. You feel like you don’t want to go that big because you’re not that big. But you got to find somebody. Go find, get Tank [to] come back and fight.
“You can’t fight Devin because Devin shouldn’t come below 147. So go fight Tank or somebody that can make 140.”
‘Tank’ Davis vs Stevenson is has been one of the most in-demand bouts in the sport of boxing for some time, and could have at one stage been a unification at lightweight. Stevenson – who was recently released from his Zuffa Boxing contract at his request – has since moved to 140lbs, where he relieved Teofimo Lopez of his WBO belt, while Davis has been involved in legal battles outside the ring, and has been named WBA lightweight champion in recess due to the inactivity.
It is for that reason that the fight seems unlikely at this stage, though ‘Tank’ is reportedly targeting a 2027 return, with George Kambosos Jr. named as a potential opponent.
