Eddie Hearn: Haney would be 'a minimum of 170 pounds in the ring' against Shakur Stevenson

The Matchroom promoter says Stevenson "would be giving away 20" pounds and "should be unifying his own division" instead of chasing Devin Haney.

Eddie Hearn says Devin Haney would rehydrate by a "minimum of 20" pounds and be "a minimum of 170 pounds in the ring" against Shakur Stevenson, and that Stevenson should not be chasing the fight.

Asked by Fight Hub TV whether Matchroom could make the Haney fight if it signed Stevenson, Hearn said: "Shakur's fighting in the wrong weight class, right? He's really a 135-pounder." He added: "He's got no business being at 147, but he wanted to fight Devin, and Devin wanted to fight him."

When the interviewer asked whether he knew for a fact that Haney rehydrates by more than 15 pounds, Hearn said: "An absolute minimum, minimum, minimum of 20, at least probably 25 pounds, right? So Devin Haney would be a minimum of 170 pounds in the ring."

Hearn, who said he has "worked with Devin my whole, like, my whole career", said Haney was putting on "15, 20, 25" when he fought at 135. He said Stevenson "would be giving away 20" pounds "potentially in that fight", adding: "It's a massive size difference in that fight, but Shakur has got unbelievable skills and he can still win it."

"I'm staying out of the beef," Hearn said. "I just know they're both competitors and they both wanted the fight, but I don't think Shakur should be chasing the Haney fight. I think he should be unifying his own division, or really the division above where he is."

Asked whether Matchroom is trying to sign Stevenson, Hearn said "of course" and asked "who wouldn't?" He said: "Everybody's going to be in the race. We'd love to try and win it."

Haney has said he offered Stevenson the fight at 144lb and then at 145lb, and will not go back down from 147lb to make it. Haney, the WBO welterweight champion, faces IBF champion Liam Paro on Saturday 19 December at Chase Center in San Francisco, live on DAZN pay-per-view.

Hearn also told Fight Hub TV that Dana White is "having a disaster" in boxing.

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