Devin Haney must fight Shakur Stevenson before moving to 140 says Shawn Porter

By Boxing News - 05/22/2023 - Comments

By Adam Baskin: Shawn Porter says Devin Haney needs to stay at 135 long enough to face Shakur Stevenson before he moves up to 140.

Porter thinks it’s worth it for Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) to fight #1 WBC Shakur (20-0, 10 KOs) before going up to light welterweight to begin campaigning in that weight class.

Unfortunately, Haney doesn’t appear to be interested in making that fight because he resembled a sprinter with how he dashed out of the ring last Saturday night after Shakur climbed through the ropes to call him out.

Rather than staying in the ring to use the spotlight and cameras to take advantage of the attention to begin an early promotion for a fight against Stevenson, Haney quickly made a hasty retreat, showing that he wanted no part of mixing it with the young gun in the future.

If this were a battle, Haney would be riddled to pieces by exposing his flank to the enemy gunfire. The move by Haney showed that he was giving in to the alpha fighter.

Before leaving the ring, Haney told Shakur, “I’m #1.”

Shakur said, “For now, bro. Hey, for now.

What was interesting about that interaction was how Haney commented while looking over his shoulder and walking toward the safety of the ring ropes.

In other words, Haney wasn’t willing to stand and confront Shakur to show that he was the true champion. That interaction showed that Haney doesn’t want any part of fighting Shakur, and the fight WON’T be happening in this lifetime.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum would be overjoyed at Haney fighting Shakur next, so he was allowed to enter the ring after the Haney-Lomachenko fight last Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The promoters don’t let just anyone enter the ring. It’s all done with permission. But Arum can’t force Haney to fight Shakur if he doesn’t fancy his chances of winning.

He has to. How could you not? Both those guys. They want everything that comes along with the titles. That means the big fights, and of course, the money,” said Shawn Porter to ProBox TV about Devin Haney needing to fight Shakur Stevenson before moving up to 140.

“It’s worth it for him to hang around 135lbs. That is a super fight. Haney and Shakur Stevenson is an incredible fight. He can move up, remain undefeated, and still make a lot of money.

“Haney, I’m sure, has a goal to be the best, which means beating Stevenson,” said Porter.

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