Bill Haney wants Devin Haney to fight Shakur Stevenson on November 28 in Atlanta, but his disclosure that an offer comes through DAZN creates an awkward possibility for Zuffa: its fighter taking a difficult matchup while another platform gets the event.
“The offer is on the table for him to fight in November,” Bill told the Tru Media Podcast. Later, when asked about DAZN, he added: “The offer is presented from DAZN as well.”
November 28 remains Bill’s target rather than an announced fight date. The broadcast arrangement also needs confirmation. If DAZN funds and shows the bout, however, Zuffa would miss the opportunity to use Shakur’s appearance to attract viewers to Paramount+.
A win over Devin would increase Shakur’s value. Getting there could be difficult against a bigger fighter whose long jab and control of distance offer a demanding test for someone who relies on timing and accuracy rather than knockout power.
The proposed date leaves seven weeks from October 9. Further negotiations would shorten that window, although neither fighter’s current preparation is publicly clear.
Zuffa’s problem has developed during Shakur’s inactivity. After beating Teofimo Lopez in January, he passed on Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela while pursuing other opponents. His attention went toward Lamont Roach before Roach lost to William Zepeda, then Gary Antuanne Russell and Devin. Raymond Muratalla has attracted little interest from him.
Rayo offered a possible earlier return in an in-house Zuffa fight. The likely smaller payday could have bought something useful: activity, another appearance for Zuffa’s audience, and a chance to build on the Teofimo victory.
Waiting has costs. By November 28, nearly ten months will have passed since that win. Audience attention moves elsewhere, while a fighter can lose the timing and judgment that competition helps maintain. Sparring provides work, but the extent of any lost sharpness becomes apparent under fight-night pressure.
For Shakur, whose technical style appeals most strongly to a narrower boxing audience, regular meaningful fights are especially useful. Zuffa now needs to get him moving again. Approving Devin on DAZN could solve the inactivity while exposing its investment to a difficult opponent on someone else’s platform.
