Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson today publicly reignited their rivalry, leading fans to believe that the fight – one of the biggest in the sport – can be made. However, there is still one major obstacle to clear.
The two stars are part of an elite class that carries the sport of boxing in the US today. Haney is a three-weight world champion, while Stevenson has held belts in four. Both have undefeated records since Haney’s defeat to Ryan Garcia was overturned when the latter failed a doping test, and both can boast some of the best skills in the sport.
Talk of a fight between them gathered pace earlier this year, but Stevenson’s demand for a 144lb catchweight – he has had just one fight at 140lbs – and Haney’s insistence on making it a bona fide welterweight bout at 147lbs seemed to lead to negotiations collapsing.
Haney did appear to agree to the catchweight at one stage, but the fact that both men were subsequently linked to other fights seemed to suggest that the match-up was off the table.
After a few quiet weeks, Haney got fans talking today when he shared an AI-generated face-off with Stevenson on Instagram. Stevenson added fuel to the fire by tagging his countryman on X with the caption “Let’s go!”
However, any excitement was curbed when it was revealed through the exchange that a contract has not been signed, and that the weight remains an issue.
Stevenson appears to have agreed to fight at welterweight, but Haney has urged him to ‘drop the rehydration clause’ from the proposed contract.
U know it’s not done.. stop the games. Have u signed a contract for it? Let go of this rehydration clause https://t.co/q5UwtYWMcc
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) October 4, 2026
Drop your nuts & rehydration clause then.. https://t.co/24ZGwBJNzf
— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) October 4, 2026
Haney beat Brian Norman Jr for the WBO welterweight world title last November and has been inactive since. Stevenson put on a stellar performance in January to take Teofimo Lopez’s WBO super-lightweight belt, but has also not fought since, despite a high-profile signing with Zuffa Boxing.
The inactivity will be forgiven by fans if this genuine super fight gets over the line, though many will remain sceptical.
