Devin Haney tells Shakur Stevenson: “Stop crying to the WBC, I’ll be back to 135”

Image: Devin Haney tells Shakur Stevenson: "Stop crying to the WBC, I'll be back to 135"
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 17: Bill Haney speaks during the Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko - PPV Press Conference at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on May 17, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
By Boxing News - 07/30/2023 - Comments

By Adam Baskin: Devin Haney told Shakur Stevenson today that he wants him to stop crying to the WBC because he’ll be returning to the 135-lb division after he challenges Regis Prograis for his title at 140.

Shakur revealed that he’s willing to accept Haney’s lowball 25% offer, provided he bets his entire purse along with it. Obviously, that’s a nonstarter because if Haney thought he could win, as he did in his fight against George Kambosos Jr, he’d agree to it in a second.

What Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) left out in his message to Shakur is that he’s rumored to be in the process of asking the WBC to make him Franchise champion at 135, which would provide him a sanctuary, a safe place to hide from being hunted by Stevenson.

If the WBC doesn’t give Haney the Franchise tag, his lightweight belt with them will be scrapped and abandoned because that belt has become too hot to hold onto. Too much trouble comes from holding onto the WBC lightweight belt for Haney.

The pressure from being chased by Shakur has caused Haney to head north, seeking refuge by looking to negotiate a fight with the weakest link at 140, the 35-ish Prograis, who looks washed.

Haney will then be able to face anyone he likes, freeing him up from the tedious & troublesome requirement of needing to defend against his mandatory challengers with the WBC.

The Franchise tag would be a savior in a sense for Haney because he could hold onto his undisputed lightweight championship and continue to use them as a lure to Gervonta Davis.

Thus far, Gervonta has shown no ambition to try to collect all the titles at 135. He’s satisfied making top dollar, holding the secondary WBA lightweight title, and facing spoon-fed opposition that is no threat to beating.

Gervonta obviously knows he’s got a good thing going, making excellent coin fighting weak opposition, and he’s not going to mess things up by fighting Haney and possibly getting beat.

Last week, Haney asked the WBC for permission to allow him to hold onto his WBC lightweight title while he moves up to 140 to challenge Prograis for his belt.

The reason Haney wants Prograis’ belt is for bargaining purposes. If Haney can get his hands on that belt, he can use it as leverage to get a better financial deal with WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez.

Teofimo has already told Haney he’s on board with fighting him, but it’s now up to him when he’s ready to start negotiating.