Mikey Garcia says Devin Haney has size advantage over Shakur Stevenson

The former four-division world champion told ESNEWS the fight would be close. Talks at the catchweight collapsed when, according to Stevenson, Haney's lawyer demanded they box at 147lb.

Mikey Garcia believes Devin Haney would carry a size advantage into a 145lb catchweight fight with Shakur Stevenson, although the former four-division world champion stopped short of writing Stevenson off.

Garcia told ESNEWS that he may slightly favour Haney's size if the fight is revisited. He stressed that both men are highly skilled and that Stevenson can never be counted out. He expected a close contest, one he suggested would appeal more to boxing purists than to casual viewers.

The two Americans had been negotiating to meet at 145lb before talks broke down at the last minute, according to Stevenson. He said the problems began when Haney's lawyer demanded the fight take place at 147lb, even though Stevenson had only recently moved up to super-lightweight.

Stevenson became a four-division world champion in January by beating Teofimo Lopez on a unanimous decision. Haney, 27, has not fought since November, when he became a three-division world champion by beating Brian Norman Jr on points. He is expected to stay at 147lb for his next fight.

Stevenson has since split from Zuffa Boxing without having a single fight under its banner. He has said he intends to box at 135lb or 140lb for now, which effectively rules out the Haney fight for the foreseeable future.

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