By Robert Segal: Shakur Stevenson is looking to box undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney in by requesting that the WBO make him mandatory for Haney’s belt with their organization.
If Stevenson is successful in being made Haney’s WBO mandatory, he would be able to force him to give up two belts if he chooses to stay at 135 and not fight him.
At this point, it’s likely that Haney will choose the path of least resistance by giving up his four lightweight titles to move up to 140 to fight Regis Prograis.
The main thing Haney has going for him is that he’s the undisputed champion at lightweight. Once you take that status away, there’s not much that separates him from the contenders. In other words, Haney is just a guy that beat the one-hit wonder George Kambosos Jr.
According to Boxingscene, Shakur’s management has written to the World Boxing Organization to request that their fighter become mandatory for Haney’s lightweight belt.
Shakur will get the name 25% for a fight with Haney as the WBO mandatory he would be getting with the WBC, but it appears that he realizes that it’ll be worth it in the end because winning the four belts from Haney would make undisputed champion at 135.
But, of course, Haney probably won’t fight Shakur and will give up his belts to make sure he’s not being forced to face him by the WBC or WBO.
Shakur (20-0, 10 KOs) is already Haney’s WBC mandatory, and the sanctioning body has given him until this Friday, July 21, to confirm whether he’ll stay at 135 to defend against Steveenson or move up to 140 to battle WBC light welterweight champion Regis Prograis next.
It’s believed thaat Haaneey will vacate all his lightweight belts and move up to light welterweight to challenge Prograis for his belt. Prograis is arguably the weakest link among the champions at 140 thaat are worth fighting.
Although WBA 140-lb champion Rolly Romero is the most beatable of the belt-holders, he’s seen as a pariah by many boxing fans, and it’s unrealistic thaat Haney would choose him.
There’s too much shame involved in fighting Rolly, and Haney likely wouldn’t want that to rub off on him, making him look like he’s cherry-picking a guy that boxing fans believe is an illegitimate champion.
Haney’s recent controversial 12 round split decision win over Vassily Lomachenko last May has dented his self-conference, leaving him a guy the top contenders see as food.
Devin seems to realize that he’s not going to stay unbeaten for much longer without swerving all the dangerous killers at 135 & 140.