Shakur Stevenson has laid out his exact terms for a potential clash with Devin Haney, insisting that he would be happy to fight above 140lbs.
The 28-year-old claimed his WBO super-lightweight title, and became a four-division world champion, by unanimously outpointing and dethroning Teofimo Lopez last month.
As a result of his dominant performance, which saw him drop just one round, many have called for the slick southpaw to test his skills at 147lbs.
More specifically, WBO welterweight champion Haney has been mentioned as an intriguing option, with his size representing a significant advantage over Stevenson.
The 27-year-old became a three-division world champion in November, scoring a second-round knockdown before convincingly outpointing Brian Norman Jr down the stretch.
While having previously claimed notable victories over Vasyl Lomachenko and Regis Prograis at 135 and 140lbs, respectively, Haney now seems a far more rejuvenated operator since moving up to 147lbs.
If he is to face Stevenson, though, then the American may be compelled to agree to a catchweight of 144lbs, which Ryan Garcia has already highlighted as a possible option for himself.
In an interview with Ring Magazine earlier this week, Garcia, who will face WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on Saturday, said that he would willingly sacrifice 3lbs in order to fight Stevenson.
Steveson, meanwhile, has told Stephen A. Smith that, while potentially swerving a rehydration clause, Haney must nonetheless agree to the 144lb catchweight proposed by Garcia.
“I think the Devin Haney fight is a big fight. I think it’s just got to make sense.
“With Ryan Garica, he’s just said he would come down to 144lbs. So, if [Haney] comes to do that, and it makes sense, [then] let’s do it.”
It remains to be seen whether the WBO would sanction such a contest, presenting Stevenson with the opportunity to become a five-weight world champion.
