J Prince says Bill Haney 'figured out a way to stop' Shakur Stevenson vs Devin Haney

Stevenson's manager says both sides agreed 145lb before the Haney camp wanted 147, and denied there was ever a rehydration clause.

J Prince, Shakur Stevenson's manager, has blamed Devin Haney's father and trainer, Bill Haney, for the collapse of talks for a Stevenson v Haney fight.

Asked in an interview whether a rehydration clause had been part of the deal, Prince said: "No. See, that's part of the lies that's being told. No dehydration clause. We agreed at 45, and Shakur was training for the fight. I was told Devin was training for the fight."

Prince said Haney's side then changed course late on: "Oh, we want to fight at 47 now. So, you know, I don't think they ever wanted to fight. I think Devin did. I don't think Bill never liked that fight, and he figured out a way to stop it."

His account matches Stevenson's own. On 16 October Stevenson wrote on X that "at the 11th hour, after agreeing to 144 and then 145", Haney's lawyer had emailed to say he would only fight at 147. Haney replied that he had agreed to 145 and that Stevenson's side "tried to put a rehydration clause on me", while Bill Haney wrote on Instagram that "145 was a concession we made that wasn't returned". The full back-and-forth is here.

Haney, the WBO welterweight titleholder, signed with DAZN on Friday, a day after The Ring reported that he and Liam Paro had agreed a WBO and IBF welterweight unification in the US before the end of the year.

READ NEXTDevin Haney signs with DAZN as broadcaster promises 'huge fights are ahead'Read the next story →

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