The long-awaited clash between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson is closer than ever after the two rivals finally verbally agreed to a catchweight overnight.
Negotiations for the blockbuster bout had previously stalled over the contracted limit, unsurprising given the difference in their recent career trajectories. Haney has now established himself at 147lbs, capturing the WBO welterweight world title last November with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Brian Norman Jr. in Riyadh. He was, at one stage, insistent on a bona fide 147lb clash if he was to face Stevenson.
Stevenson, meanwhile, has only just arrived at 140lbs. The Newark southpaw officially became a four-weight world champion in January when he put on a masterclass to thoroughly outpoint Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden. Despite his flawless transition to super-lightweight, Stevenson had been heavily pushing for a much lower 144lb catchweight against Haney, leading to a bitter public stalemate. Haney also hit back at attempts to include a rehydration clause.
The obstacle appeared to he finally overcome during a late-night exchange on X when Stevenson publicly accepted Haney’s counter-offer to meet in the middle at 145lbs.
Confirming the newly proposed limit, Stevenson said: “You got a deal.”
145.0 U GOT A DEAL DEEHOE!!!!
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) October 8, 2026
Crucially, there was no mention of the rehydration clause that Haney had previously urged Stevenson to drop. The absence of that stipulation in the overnight exchange suggests that secondary hurdle may also have been quietly cleared.
While anything official may be days or weeks away the public compromise removes the biggest stated obstacle to the fight. Both men are coming off career-defining championship victories, and with the weight dispute seemingly resolved, the pressure is now firmly on both camps to put pen to paper and deliver one of the most significant fights in US boxing.
