By Dan Ambrose: Eddie Hearn says Shakur Stevenson should call Devin Haney’s bluff by accepting the 25% offer he made for a fight. Hearn doubts that even if Shakur (20-0, 10 KOs) agreed to the offer, the Haney fight still wouldn’t happen.
Stevenson has a narrow view of things; instead of seeing the big picture of what he would gain by beating Haney to become the undisputed lightweight champion, he’s only concerned about not getting the split he wants.
It’s a pride thing, and it’s hurt him in this case. Shakur can’t see the big picture. Unfortunately, it’s probably too late for Shakur to change his mind and agree to the 25% offer from Haney because that ship has sailed.
For Stevenson to become a star, he’ll need to accept the short money because that’s the only way it’s going to happen. Obviously, Shakur would make Haney look bad if he agreed to his offer and let the fans & media know about it every chance he could.
Hearn states that everyone knows how good the former two-division world champion Shakur is, so they’re not going to drag their feet, as we’re now seeing with Haney.
Devin is likely going to be vacating his four lightweight titles to go up to 140 to fight for a belt in that weight class against Teofimo Lopez or Regis Prograis. The money Haney can make against Teo would be massive compared to what he’d get facing Shakur.
In Hearn’s view, Stevenson hasn’t been promoted correctly by Top Rank and isn’t the start he should be. Hearn doesn’t say what his promoters should have done to make Shakur a star.
Top Rank can’t force people like Gervonta Davis, Haney & Teofimo to fight Shakur if they don’t wish to face him.
“Shakur is in a difficult position because everyone knows how good Shakur is,” said Eddie Hearn to Fighthype on whether Shakur Stevenson should have accepted the 25% that was offered to him by undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney fight for a fight.
Many boxing fans agree with Hearn, as they don’t understand why Shakur didn’t accept the offer from Haney. If Shakur beats Haney, that makes him the undisputed lightweight champion, and the fame & money would pour in from there.
“At some point, he’s going to have to take short money to make himself a superstar because he’s just not a superstar at the moment. In my opinion, he’s not promoted correctly,” Hearn continued about Shakur.
“I don’t think he has the draw-power that he should have that his ability lends itself to, and sometimes you have to call someone’s bluff and take the fight.
“It’s a bit like when Tyson Fury said, ‘Alright, Usyk, I’ll give you 30%.’ Usyk went, ‘Okay,’ and Tyson Fury went, ‘What?’ I think if Shakur Stevenson turned around and went, ‘Alright, I’ll take 25%,’ I’m still not sure that fight would get made. So call his bluff.
“They should do. I think Devin is due a mandatory, but the mandatory will come at 70-30,” said Hearn on whether Shakur writing to the WBC to get them to order Haney to fight him will work.
