The former champion says Haney agreed to the catchweight Stevenson wanted, but talks appear to have stalled afterward
Tim Bradley says Shakur Stevenson is sending the wrong message after Devin Haney agreed to the 144-pound catchweight Stevenson had publicly requested. The former champion questioned why talks appear to have slowed after Haney accepted the terms.
“I was cool with the 144. Cool with it,” Bradley said on the Into The Storm podcast. “I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s meeting in the middle.’ Haney straight-up conceded to that 144, bro. That’s what you said.
“And then you go missing. You go missing. MIA. Hearing crickets. Where you at? He trying to make the damn fight.
“Remember when I said that you was going to take over the throne? No, you’re not.
“I don’t think you’re going to take over the throne, bro. The way you moving, that tells me so, bro. That tells me everything I need to know.
“You got too much going on, dog. For real.”
Bradley’s criticism comes as Haney faces pressure to resolve his WBO welterweight title situation. The sanctioning body previously ordered Haney to defend against mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis, leaving limited time to finalize a fight with Shakur before a mandatory defense is due.
Bradley also suggested that Haney is now the fighter pushing hardest to make the matchup happen.
“Haney wants you,” Bradley said. “Haney right now looking like the big dog.”
Haney publicly agreed earlier this month to face Shakur at a 144-pound catchweight after the unbeaten WBC lightweight champion indicated that fighting at the full welterweight limit was one of his concerns.
If a Haney-Shakur fight cannot be finalized, Haney may be required to satisfy his WBO mandatory obligation against Keyshawn Davis later this summer.
