By Adam Baskin: Terence Crawford says Shakur Stevenson will beat Devin Haney if that fight goes down next for the undisputed lightweight championship.
Crawford didn’t see anything in Haney’s win over Vasyl Lomachenko last weekend that would change his mind that he’ll lose if he elects to stay at 135 for one more fight to defend his four belts against Shakur (20-0, 10 KOs).
Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) must decide quickly if he will stick it out at lightweight or move up to light welterweight because Stevenson said last Saturday night that he’s activating his mandatory status with the WBC to force the title shot.
Once the WBC orders the fight, the only way Haney can swerve fighting Shakur is by one of these methods:
- Fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis
- Vacate WBC belt
- Commission orders Lomachenko rematch
- Move up to 140
It would be brave on Haney’s part if he chose to face Shakur to go down with his ship like a true warrior, but he didn’t look like he was exuding confidence when asked if he’ll stay at 135 to fight the talented Newark, New Jersey native after the fight.
Haney likely sees the writing on the wall about him lacking the talent to beat the killers at 135:
Shakur Stevenson
Tank Davis
Frank Martin
Isaac Cruz
Keyshawn Davis
Raymond Muratalla
Giovanni Cabrera
William Zepeda
Gustavo Lemos
Jamaine Ortiz
Floyd Schofield
Haney will relinquish his undisputed lightweight championship and beat cheeks to move up to 140 to avoid getting taken apart by these circling predators.
“You already know. Nobody beats Shakur,” said Terence Crawford to the media when asked by the media about what happens if Devin Haney defends against Shakur Stevenson.
“I say Shakur beats everybody. It doesn’t matter who it is. Shakur is beating them. Shakur over everybody. That’s how it’s going to be. That boy is special. Shakur is one of a kind.
“He adapts to every fighter, and once he adapts to you, it’s a long night. We’ve seen Shakur go forward, we’ve seen Shakur stay in the pocket, we’ve seen Shakur move and how defensive-minded he is. Shakur is just an all-around great fighter.
“I know what it was like to be struggling to make 135. I was there for some time. It’s up to him. He’s the one that’s got to make the weight. Nobody else,” said Crawford on whether Haney should stay at lightweight or move up to 140. “It’s hard.”
“100%, I don’t lose this fight,” said Lomachenko at the post-fight press conference.
