By Sean Jones: Shakur Stevenson says he prefers that undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney fight Vasyl Lomachenko next in October instead of a rematch with former undisputed 135-lb champion George Kambosos Jr.
Stevenson feels that Haney’s 12-round unanimous decision win over previously unbeaten Kambosos (20-1, 10 KOs) last month on June 5th was too one-sided for it to be worthwhile for a rematch.
Unfortunately, the one-hit-wonder Kambosos has a rematch clause in the contract, and he’s already made it known that he wants the second fight with Haney (28-0, 15 KOs), which is expected to take place in Australia in October.
The boxing public would much prefer Haney to defend against Lomachenko, Ryan Garcia, Gevonta ‘Tank’ Davis, or Isaac Cruz. Kambosos should work his way back to a title shot like most fighters that lose when battling a world champion.
You can argue that rematch clauses hurt the sport as it leads to the A-side fighter getting a second fight in matches that are often conclusive enough for there to be no need for the fighters to run it back.
“Me and Devin is going to be a big fight when it happens. That’s a possibility. I’m not crossing that out, but I heard that Lomachenko expressed that he wants the belts,” said Shakur Stevenson to Fighthype when asked about him fighting Vasyl Lomachenko.
“I just hope they [Team Haney] finds something in that contract that gets them out of the rematch [with George Kambosos Jr]. Nobody wants to see that again. I disagree with people who think Devin had a boring performance. That’s a false narrative. I enjoyed this fight, actually.
“It was one-sided; it was a one-sided fight. Who wants to sit and watch a fight when you know clearly that if Devin goes in there with him again, it’s not going to be nothing different,” said Shakur about a rematch between Haney and Kambosos.
“It’s nothing that he [Kambosos] can do differently. That’s who he is. He fought like he fought. It was the same way he fought against Teo [Lopez], but it worked with Teo, and it didn’t work with Devin.
“I don’t want to see it. I think Devin dominates him easily again. Devin may stop him the next time. So, he might get bold and put real hands on him and get him up out of there.
“I think it should be Devin and Lomachenko, and let me get active on whoever. You know how that goes.
“I think the distance control. Devin, he uses his jab real well, and his footwork was phenomenal, and he had a great jab,” said Stevenson about the performance Haney put in last June with his victory over Kambosos.
“He did all the right things in that fight [with Kambosos]. He didn’t get hit that much. He just outboxed him and made it easy. The thing is, people, look at it and say, ‘He was supposed to do that.’
“I disagree with that narrative because Teo went in there, and he lost to him. Devin went in there and made him look like he didn’t belong in the ring. What does that have to say about Devin?
“Teo beat Lomachenko, and then Kambosos beat Teo. You have to give Devin his credit. He’s the man at 135, basically. You’ve got to give credit where it’s due.
“Put some respect on his name because all these dudes beat each other, and then Devin came and beat the dude that beat them. He dominated that dude [Kambosos], so he’s the man at the weight class at the moment.
“Devin is going to try and make it a boxing match as much as possible,” said Shakur when asked who wins a fight between Lomachenko and Haney. “Lomachenko is going to try and rush forward and make it a fight.
“I see Devin winning. Devin has got the speed advantage on Lomachenko. Lomachenko is a little bit older. I think his speed is going to be a little bit too much for Lomachenko if they fight,” said Stevenson.
“They asked him if he wants to fight Shakur Stevenson, and he said, ‘I want the belts at 135. I’m not thinking about him.’ He’s probably going to be first in line for the belts with Devin.
“By the time I’m there, whoever has the belts, I’m going after. If it comes down to it, that’s what I’m with. Mainly when it comes down to it, I’m going to be looking for them belts when I get to that weight class,” said Shakur.
