The four-division champion expects Devin Haney to vacate the WBO title, opening the door to a 144-pound catchweight showdown while clearing Keyshawn Davis’ path to the belt
Shakur Stevenson says the long-awaited fight with Devin Haney is on the verge of becoming reality. He believes Haney is preparing to vacate the WBO welterweight title, removing the final obstacle to a catchweight fight at 144 pounds.
“I think everything is there. I think all the cards are in the right place,” said Shakur on Cam Newton’s channel. “It’s only one thing that’s stopping it so far right now, and then we’re waiting on him to vacate his belt. He sounds like he’s committed on vacating his belt. So after he vacates his belt, it’s going to be me versus him at a catchweight, and I’m going to beat him.”
Shakur explained that his stance isn’t just about getting the Haney fight. He said he doesn’t want to stand in the way of Keyshawn Davis, who is the mandatory challenger for Haney’s WBO title.
“Keyshawn Davis is my brother. I got nothing but love and respect for him,” Shakur said. “He’s the mandatory for Devin’s belt. So, I don’t want to step on his toes and take something from him or get in the way. Devin, it seems like he’s committed on vacating the belt and getting out of Keyshawn’s way.”
With Haney campaigning at welterweight and Shakur competing at junior welterweight, the unbeaten four-division champion said the compromise is a catchweight.
“Me and him can meet at a catchweight, but he’s fighting at 147. I fight at 140. So we’re not at the same weight class. Now we’ve got to meet in between,” said Shakur.
When asked whether that would be 144 pounds, Shakur replied, “144 is a weight that I said, and they agreed to.”
If Haney follows through with vacating the WBO title, it would clear the way for Davis to pursue the vacant championship while removing the biggest obstacle to one of boxing’s most anticipated matchups.
It’s the outcome that Shakur has been pushing for. Keyshawn gets the title opportunity he earned, Haney is free to move on from the mandatory obligation, and Shakur gets the marquee fight he has been chasing, even if it means moving up four pounds to meet Haney at the agreed 144-pound catchweight.
