Shakur know what time it is with me. Uh at the end of the day, he know that my offer was legitimate and if he wanted to, he really believed in himself and if if he believed that I was everything that he claimed that I was, then he would have took the fight. If he felt like I was so easy, so green, whatever he says, then he would have took the fight and uh he would have had shot at undisputed titles.
Devin Haney has revealed a private message that he says proves Shakur Stevenson avoided a potential fight between them. The leaked conversation has added fuel to the ongoing debate with fans and insiders now questioning whether Shakur was genuinely interested in making one of boxing's biggest matchups happen. I think that it's a good fight for boxing.
Um, you know, uh, a chance for me to pick up another belt. Shakur reportedly sent a message to Bill Haney indicating that he would be fighting someone else next rather than Devin. Devon later shared that message publicly, using it as evidence to support his claim that Shakur was ignoring a legitimate fight offer.
According to Haney, the message proved that he was serious about making the fight and that the opportunity was on the table. With accusations of ducking now being exchanged from both sides, the debate over who really wants the fight has only intensified, leaving fans eager to see whether the two undefeated stars will ever settle their differences inside the ring. Devin Haney shared another bold message on social media about two of boxing's biggest names.
Haney said that a fight between him and Shakur Stevenson is the next big fight fans want to see. He also made it clear that he wants to face both Shakur and Keshan Davis, saying, "I want him and Keshan, little bro then big bro. " With one tweet, Haney showed that he's ready for either challenge and believes those are the fights that should happen next.
Meanwhile, Benji tweeted, "As per Shawn Zitle, it's reported the company Zufa Boxing wants Devin Haney to fight Shakur Stevenson. To everyone's surprise, it's Shakur Stevenson stopping the fight from happening again. And fans reacted to this news.
One fan tweeted, "Shakur scared, it's obvious he turned down the deal with Haney for all the belts at 135 and outpriced himself when he fought no one. Now that he's finally fought Teao, he calls Devon name in interviews saying he's way better, but stays silent when Devon tweets him. " Shakur is a clown.
Another added, "If Shakur doesn't have a clear physical advantage, he has no interest in fighting. People keep expecting a guy who takes no risk in the ring to actually take a risky fight. " And this fan said, "Shakur is a 135 pounder who just moved up to 140.
Allegedly, he's ducking Haney by not immediately moving up again to 147. This is a strange ass mentality. " And after questions were raised about whether the offer was genuine, Haney defended his position and insisted that everything was legitimate from his side.
The former undisputed champion made it clear that he wants the fight and pushed back against suggestions that he was trying to avoid Stevenson with fans continuing to debate who is really holding up the matchup. Haney's response has only added more fuel to the ongoing rivalry between the two undefeated stars. Pull up the receipts.
I've been I wanted to fight him. I've caught him out before that fight. Um, it just all aligned now that I'm a free agent.
Well, I was a free agent and, you know, now that I'm with Matt Room, it was it it all it all came to fruition. You know, it was organic, but um, it is what it is. I I I'm willing to fight the best fighters in the world.
When asked how he sees the fight playing out, Haney agreed with Stevenson's description of it as a highstakes chess match. He explained that both fighters possess elite boxing IQ and technical skills, which would make for a tactical battle inside the ring rather than an all-out slugfest. Haney also revealed that he and Stevenson have known each other since childhood and have shared history in the sport, adding another layer of intrigue to a potential clash between two of boxing's most skilled young champions.
It says now that he's moving up in weight. uh he he got stripped of his titles uh because he said his body can't handle 130 anymore. Um when we had him on the last stand, he said he would love to fight Devin Haney because as he put it, quote, "It would be a high stakes chess match.
" Could you see Devin Haney now that he's at 135 and Shakur Stevenson getting it on? Yeah. Um it's very it's a very likely fight.
[cough] that that is going to happen eventually. Um, we just got to see. Now he's at 135.
You know, it's get it get it's getting closer and closer, but it all starts with, you know, October 15. That's my main focus [music] right now. And then, uh, we'll go from there.
He said because you guys are two highly skilled fighters. That's why he called it a chess. How would you see that fight going in the ring?
Yeah, it's definitely a chess match. Shakur has a, you know, high boxing IQ. So do I.
So uh it makes for um a test match in the ring. Since we were little kids, we've been knowing each other. So we spared numerous times as as kids.
Devin Haney believes a fight with Shakur Stevenson is one of the biggest and most intriguing matchups that can be made in boxing. While he respects Stevenson's talent and agrees that it would be a highlevel chess match between two elite technicians, Haney is confident he has what it takes to win. According to Haney, both fighters possess exceptional boxing IQ, but he feels his experience, discipline, and all-around skill set would allow him to come out on top.
Ring intelligence, skill, technique, everything towards Devon. Devon has the advantage. Haney also pointed out that he and Stevenson have known each other since they were young, making the potential showdown even more meaningful.
Rather than avoiding the challenge, Haney has repeatedly expressed interest in making the fight happen. He believes that defeating Stephvenson would silence critics and prove that he is operating on a different level. For Haney, the matchup isn't just about winning another fight.
It's about showing the boxing world who the superior fighter truly is. This is a fight where I go in there and uh I have fun and I show how how good I really am. Meanwhile, during the interview, the conversation shifted toward a potential blockbuster clash between Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney, with the interviewer suggesting that the entire boxing world could soon be demanding the fight.
In response, Stevenson admitted that he would welcome the matchup, recognizing just how huge it could become for the sport. At the same time, he remained cautious with his words, knowing how quickly comments can be twisted once they reach the public. Still, Stevenson emphasized the mutual respect between both fighters.
While the growing buzz around the matchup continues to build anticipation for what many fans already see as a future super fight, I don't think it's hit this point yet, but I think in the next year or two it'll hit a point where it's like the world is going to demand. You know what I'm saying? I can see the trajectory feels like it's going it could meet like that.
I would love this fight. But look, you gotta watch when you what you say with like and this is not even Deon. Devin is very respectful of my game and I'm respectful of his game.
He's a good fighter, but his fans will clip and twist and turn Yeah. things into something that is not. So I try to be real careful on what I say.
True. This has got Jay on Twitter. Moreover, Shakur Stevenson didn't hold back when addressing a potential fight with Devin Haney, making it clear that he doesn't see a scenario where he comes out second best.
Confident in his own craft, he views himself as operating on an entirely different level. In his eyes, the fight would ultimately be decided by elite level boxing IQ and control in the ring, an area where he believes he stands above the rest. His statement reflects unwavering self-belief and the mindset of a fighter who considers himself the benchmark in highle boxing exchanges.
Hell no. Yeah. For me personally, I'm on a different level than everybody.
Yeah. And when it comes down to boxing, cuz Devin, he's a boxer. It's not like he's a stone cold killer who's just going to go in there and try to knock me the out.
Yeah. He's going to try to outbox me. I'm conquering myself.
None of these dudes got a chance. So, I don't care who you name. Um, hell of a fighters.
I'll never take nothing away from them. I enjoy watching them, but I'm the best. I'm the best.
All right. Well, listen, man. Shakur, I appreciate your time, champ.
Again, during a podcast interview, Shakur Stevenson repeated his openness to facing Deon Haney while emphasizing that his priorities remain rooted in timing, opportunity, and the business dynamics of boxing. Although he understands the growing excitement and constant fan demand surrounding this matchup, he points out that a fight of this magnitude is ultimately determined by negotiations and financial terms rather than public conversation alone. Stevenson continues to project a confident, competitive mindset, showing no hesitation in stepping up against elite opposition.
However, he also highlights the realities of boxing politics where even the most anticipated fights require the right circumstances to finally come together. One of y'all fight it sort of becomes this like, yo, are we ever going to see it? Are we ever going to see it?
I don't know. I don't know. I'm down.
Um, I'm down, bro. I'm down. they want to make it happen and um everybody wants to see the fight.
I'm down for the fight that I got. People that we fight in front of will be a business of like, okay, what's [music] how much money is you getting for this fight? How much money is you getting for this fight?
So, right, it just boils down to the business of it, but I'll fight any of them buys. Yeah. Truth.
Then Bill Haney has continued to draw comparisons between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson. Confidently suggesting that Deon holds the upper hand in a potential matchup. He goes as far as dismissing Shakur as a comfortable assignment for Devon, arguing that he has not seen a fighter who could realistically trouble his son at this level.
In his view, Devon's overall skill set and ring IQ place him above Stevenson, especially in a high pressure championship environment. These remarks add further fuel to a heated debate as discussions around a possible showdown between the two fighters continue to divide opinion based on what I see what Devin can do to Shakur. [music] Easy.
Like when I saw you and I told you Brian Norman was going to be easy. You said easy. I [music] said easy.
Mhm. Right. Was it easy?
Didn't I say it was going to be easy? Easy. But I'm saying what I said chakur is easy work [music] for Deon.
I don't want to give away too much, right? I don't want to give away too much because we are and it it could be a possible [music] fight next. You know what I'm saying?
So, I don't really want to say how, right? Um, we'll [clears throat] get back to this fight then Saturday. Yeah.
How you said Tio if he if he pressing. I've never seen Shakur as a professional walk down punk and physically unable to like get somebody off of. Have you seen it?
I'm saying as a professional. Yeah, but I've not seen him fight nobody that I would even think is anywhere near no mother Deon Haney Shakur. You ain't seen him fight nobody.
Dr, come on big homie. Tell me who he fought that you would say that's a level that we should even look at that would be anything remotely to what the skills that Deon do. Also, legendary trainer and boxing insider Greg Hackit has strongly spoken on the ongoing debate around a possible fight between Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney.
shifting focus away from doubts about confidence and instead pointing toward the business side of boxing. He explains how contract details, weight terms, and fight location choices often become the real reasons big fights fail to get made. While fans and media sometimes see this as hesitation, both fighters are still viewed as confident and ready to take on the top challenges.
In the end, Hackett makes it clear that in today's boxing world, it is negotiations, not fear, that decide whether major fights actually happen. I try to tell people a lot of fights don't happen because of the business part. The business part being the um the particulars that we got to get down to the small small print in the in the contracts [music] where it say you can weigh this, you can't come back no heavier than this or it can say we going to fight here.
[music] You I mean because it's my home turf or whatever. Yeah. And that's what the that's what the fight game is about.
People be trying to pull strings wherever they can pull them and sometimes we don't get the fight. I don't think Shakur is scared of Deon Haney. I don't think Deon Hy scared of Shakur.
I just think it's one of them situations. Shakur like he naturally a lot bigger than me. I want to at least have some type of advantage.
You know what I mean? So if it's bringing him back down, so be it. But you know, I think that fight the way it's looking, that fight not going to happen anyway till probably 2031.
Meanwhile, Shushu adds another layer to the ongoing debate around a potential clash between the two, focusing on how fighters often make strategic choices based on size, experience, and comfort at the elite level. Stevenson is seen as someone who prefers keeping conditions as fair as possible, a common approach many top fighters follow in their own way. Different champions are also compared for how they adjust their style depending on confidence and ring awareness.
At the same time, it is suggested that with more highlevel experience, the fight could have been even more challenging, especially for Deon Haney, even if the final result might still remain unchanged. Um, I feel like, you know, Shakur knows that he's naturally smaller guy and he wants to, you know, keep it an even playing field. I mean, what fighter doesn't want to do that?
I mean, you know, you know, you could be like, "F it" and, you know, you know, grab your nuts like like Bud and be like, "I don't need no [music] Jason. I'm a better fighter than you. Simple as that.
But I don't feel like there's anything wrong with Shakur doing that, you know. Um, everybody is not gonna do what Bud does. [music] Bud is his own fighter.
He's that's what that's what he decided to do. And, you know, he got a big reward from that. You know what I'm saying?
Cuz there's no excuses and stuff like that. But, um, at the end of the day, if you don't care about the excuses, it is what it is. On a higher level, he would have known more things to be able to make it a harder fight for Deon Haney.
Not to say that Devon Haney would have lost the fight. I still don't think he would have lost the fight. I just think that yes, it would have been a harder fight.
According to Ryan Garcia's trainer, the discussion around a potential Shakur Stevenson versus Devin Haney matchup is being viewed differently when it comes to its overall magnitude in boxing. He suggests that the fight may not currently sit at the level of a true mega event, implying that both fighters still need to build separate moments and achievements before such a clash reaches its full commercial peak. While opinions vary on how big the matchup truly is, the debate continues to grow as fans and insiders weigh its value, ultimately the conversation highlights how timing and career progression play a key role in defining boxing's biggest fights.
You know, Devin Haney put on his story the other day uh that him and Shakur Stevenson will be one of the biggest fights in boxing. You know, a lot of people No. No, that'll be like a chess match.
You got to have one then the other. You got to have like a tow hitch. You're going to have something like that.
You got to have something like that, you know? Obsing or else you're just going to waste your money. Meanwhile, Jervant Davis's coach, Kenny Ellis, has added his perspective to the ongoing debate surrounding the Shakur Stevenson versus Devin Haney fight, focusing heavily on the topic of weight management and fight conditions.
He argues that if fighters are able to make the contracted weight, there should be no need for additional restrictions such as rehydration clauses, especially in high-profile matchups of this level. His comments also revisit past criticism aimed at similar situations, pointing out what he sees as inconsistency in how such rules are discussed across different fights. Ultimately, Ellis's remarks add more tension to the conversation as questions around fairness and fight terms continue to surround this potential showdown.
What's your thoughts on, you know, Shakur saying that, you know, that that big fight with him and Devin Haney, he needs a rehydration clause. [snorts] Deon Haney need it. No, Shakur Stevenson needs a rehydration class to fight Deon Haney.
If if it's that 47, it's at 47. You know, I I don't get it. You know, if it's if a fighter can make their weight, they can make the [music] weight.
You know, Shakur had lots to say about Tank, you know, doing rehydration clauses and him doing it now wanting to do it with Deon Haney. It was kind of like being hypocritical. U people were thinking the people were saying Shan Ziddle also added a fresh take on the ongoing talk around a possible fight stressing that both fighters should compete at their natural and most suitable weight classes.
He points out that a fight of this level would mean more and deliver a clearer result when neither boxer is forced outside their best physical condition. At the same time, he views both men as young, highly skilled athletes who still have plenty of big opportunities ahead across different divisions. In the end, he also highlights that their separate career paths and upcoming major fights will continue to shape what comes next for both champions.
I wouldn't advise that you take a fight below your optimal weight. Uh you don't have to do that. And for Shakur to get the most optimization out of the credit you would receive in beating Deon Haney, you should fight him at his full weight class.
So there's no ifands or buts after you win a potential fight like that. Mhm. So, I think they're both good enough and young enough that it's they they could just do the last man standing thing.
Shakur could fight other champions at 140. Fight right there. That's a great fight.
It is. It is. Uh, you know, um, and Devin, meanwhile, the Ryan rematch is the biggest fight in his path right now, not not Shakur Stevenson.
Then Shawn Ziddle continues to share his thoughts on a potential showdown with increasing focus on how timing and weight divisions could ultimately influence the result. He suggests that the fight would make more sense once both boxers settle naturally into their ideal weight classes, allowing them to perform at their very best. At the same time, he notes that both fighters still have tough opponents ahead, meaning nothing is guaranteed in their path forward.
From a style perspective, he also highlights that the key could come down to pressure and output where the fighter who uses size, volume, and sustained activity may end up controlling the rhythm of the fight. So, how about just wait until Shakur is actually a welterweight? And Devin, I think, is going to be parked at welterweight for some years.
I think this is where he was always destined to really park himself at, right? Uh, and then as for the fight itself, I look, I think there's if if they can keep winning, and that's not a sure thing because they have nothing but quality opposition around them. And so Devin strong, and if Shakur wins, he gets full credit.
And as for who wins that fight, um, Devin's going to have to have more volume. When they sparred, Devin found success when he imposed his size and went downhill and threw more combinations.
