Shakur Stevenson has pumped the brakes following a report that he is in preliminary talks to face Devin Haney.<\/p>\n
The two elite Americans each have a claim for pound-for-pound status, both boast undefeated records and are considered amongst the most defensively skilled operators of the modern era.<\/p>\n
A weight class or two has always separated them, however, and Haney\u2019s recent move to welterweight \u2013 a division which Stevenson says he may arrive at but is in no rush \u2013 seemed to make the match-up less likely.<\/p>\n
For it to happen, Stevenson said he would want Haney to agree to a catchweight of 144lbs, the same limit he met when beating Jose Ramirez in 2025.<\/p>\n
Today, it was reported by The Ring\u2019s Mike Coppinger that discussions had now been opened<\/a> but that weight was the sticking point, with Stevenson presumably still pushing for that condition but Haney keen on remaining at 147.<\/p>\n However, Stevenson has now responded to Coppinger\u2019s claim, saying on X<\/a> that there has been no contact between the teams.<\/p>\n \u201cI know fans like to get excited and they could play with y\u2019all heads and manipulate y\u2019all easily, but that rumour is cap for the 2nd time. I haven\u2019t heard one word about that, [I don\u2019t know] what they [trying to] cover up or disguise, but for me and my team we haven\u2019t heard s**t.\u201d<\/p>\n