Shakur Stevenson, who is an undefeated boxer holding titles in the featherweight and super featherweight divisions, as he was a unified champion in the super featherweight division after his win over Oscar Valdez. Stevenson has made it clear that he wants to face Devin Haney, the undisputed lightweight champion, next. Now Stevenson is one step closer to forcing Haney to make a decision.
On Monday, it was announced that Shakur Stevenson is now Devin Haney's WBC mandatory challenger, and Haney has until Friday, July 21st to decide whether his next fight will be against Shakur Stevenson, or againts the junior welterweight world champion, Regis Prograis.
"Friday, July 21st is the deadline for Haney to decide if he’s fighting Prograis or if he’s going to stay in the lightweight division,” said WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman to Broadway Joel on the popular boxing personalities YouTube channel. “Shakur Stevenson is the mandatory in the lightweight division.”
It was also made clear that Haney will not be afforded any voluntary defenses as well. Meaning Haney has to fight Stevenson or move up to the junior welterweight division.
Stevenson has been critical of Haney in the past after Haney's last fight against Lomachenko, Stevenson let the world know he thought Lomachenko should be recognized as the undisputed champion, as he believes Lomachenko landed cleaner punches and pushed the pace of the fight against Haney. Stevenson believes that a fight between him and Haney should happen next, as he sees Haney as not being on his level, and he intends to prove it in the ring.
"Lomachenko should be undisputed champion...He won that fight," Stevenson said to the ESPN telecaster in the ring after Haney defeated Lomachenko. "He landed the cleaner punches, he landed the cleaner shots on Dev. He pushed the pace."
Stevenson proceeded to say the following - explaining he doesn't believe Haney is on his level.
"I think that [a fight with Devin Haney should] happen next," furthered Stevenson. "I think Devin's not on my level and I'ma show it."
Stevenson has suggested that Devin Haney and his team are avoiding him. This was brought up last week when Shakur Stevenson suggested that Haney made an unfair fight offer with an unrealistic purse split. This is even more telling since Devin Haney has made a career out of calling fighters out for ducking him. It appears Stevenson is relentless in provoking a fight with Haney.
“Nah I’m not gone take 25% but u knew that already Lil bruh be realistic," tweeted Stevenson. "Yo any fighter that want wreck wit me I’m free don’t got no opponent, no date or nun.. So for all the fighters screaming my name reach out it’s free smoke for all of u [SIC]."
Earlier this week, Teofimo Lopez, the WBO junior welterweight champion, and Vasiliy Lomachenko both called out Devin Haney.
As of now, Stevenson doesn't have a fight scheduled after his recent victory which was a sixth-round TKO of Shuichiro Yoshino in April, marking his debut in the lightweight division, but appears to be fighting for the WBC lightweight world title in his next contest.
