In the ideal world of boxing, the fans would get top-tier fighters eagerly facing each other, creating the matchups everyone dreams of. However, yesterday we got the last in the never-ending saga of online quarrels between the undisputed lightweight world champion Devin Haney, and Shakur Stevenson, who is fighting for the vacant WBC lightweight world title next month in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Haney went on the popular MMA talk show 'The MMA Hour hosted by Ariel Helwani', and explained his side of the truth on why he isn't fighting Shakur Stevenson next.
"We presented the fight, if he would've said yes to the offer I offered him, then the fight would've been made," said Haney on the MMA Hour. "The twenty-five percent [split of the purse Stevenson would've made in the fight] would've been bigger than all of his fights put together that he made.
Haney shared his perspective in an interview with Ariel Helwani, explaining once again the presented offer to Stevenson was given and what unfolded for the fight to not happen. The big divide is the purse split it seems of 25% which was offered to Stevenson.
"I think his ego and the people around him made him say no," said Haney. "Also, I don't think he truly wanted the fight, I think he just wanted to push me out of position...he wanted to fight for a vacant belt rather than me."
Stevenson quickly rebutted as he took a video shared on X and stated the following in a quote tweet.
"Lying just like his daddy. I can’t push nobody out of position that’s the undisputed champion, Only way he could move out of position if he make the CHOICE to move out of position like he did.. He chose to move up and fight Regis because he felt that was a easier option," posted Stevenson.
The two will fight mere weeks apart from each other as Stevenson is set to face Edwin De Los Santos for the WBC belt vacated by Haney, on November 16th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, the week of the F1 race. Haney will do a homecoming fight in the Bay Area making his debut at junior welterweight against the WBC junior welterweight champion Regis 'Rougarou' Prograis on December 9 in San Francisco's Chase Center.
Will this saga continue on the internet or will we as fight fans finally get closure with a bout actually contested in the ring? We shall see, but those talks will begin in 2024.
