Devin Haney vs Shakur Stevenson in "advanced discussions" for welterweight title fight

Stevenson turned to Haney after a Pacquiao fight on the Fury vs Joshua card fell through, BoxingScene reported. The two are still split on the weight.

Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson are in "advanced discussions" to fight for Haney's WBO welterweight title, BoxingScene reported on Monday, citing a connected official.

Both men are unbeaten. Haney is 33-0 with 15 knockouts and has won world titles in three divisions; Stevenson is 25-0 with 11 knockouts and has won them in four. BoxingScene said there is "sentiment that the deal will get done".

Stevenson turned to Haney after an attempt to put him in with Manny Pacquiao on the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua card in Cardiff on 11 December fell through. An official told BoxingScene that "two eight-figure fighters" were too much to fund for the co-main event of an already expensive Netflix card. Dana White, Stevenson's promoter, said last month that a Pacquiao fight had never been on the table: "That's not true. I don't know where that came from." It would be Stevenson's first fight for Zuffa Boxing.

The weight is still the sticking point. Haney wants the fight at 147lb with no rehydration clause, which limits how much weight a fighter can put back on after the weigh-in; Stevenson has countered with a 144lb limit. The two argued about it on X on Sunday, with Haney posting "147.. no rehydration let's get it done" and Stevenson replying "Let's scrap f*** the online negotiations".

Haney had been linked to IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro and had been eyeing a fight in Atlanta on 28 November; BoxingScene said it is unclear whether this fight would land there. Stevenson had also been in talks with WBA super-lightweight champion Gary Antuanne Russell, whose brother and trainer Gary Russell Jr said the offer was less than $2 million. Stevenson said on Sunday that Russell wanted $3 million.

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