NEW YORK — The long-awaited matchup between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson moved closer to reality after both fighters reached a verbal agreement on a 145lb catchweight. The compromise, reached during a late-night exchange on social media, resolves a public stalemate that had previously stalled negotiations for the high-profile bout.
Haney, who currently competes at 147lbs and captured the WBO welterweight world title last November with a unanimous decision win over Brian Norman Jr. in Riyadh, had initially insisted on a full welterweight limit. Stevenson, who moved up to 140lbs and secured a four-weight world championship in January by outpointing Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden, had pushed for a 144lb limit. After Haney proposed the middle ground, Stevenson confirmed the deal, stating, “You got a deal.”
The agreement appears to address secondary concerns as well, with no mention of a rehydration clause that had previously been a point of contention. While formal contracts have yet to be finalized, the resolution of the weight dispute removes the most significant hurdle to the fight. Both athletes enter this potential contest following career-defining championship victories, shifting the focus to their respective camps to finalize the paperwork for one of the most anticipated fights in the sport.