“I know fans like to get excited, and they can play with your heads and manipulate you easily, but that rumor is dead for the 2nd time,” Shakur said on X, in response to the report that he is in talks with Devin Haney. “I haven’t heard a single word about it, I know what they’re trying to cover up or disguise, but for me and my team, we haven’t heard s*** yet.”
The denial came shortly after reports circulated that Haney and Stevenson were discussing a fight, with weight said to be the main issue delaying progress. Stevenson’s response directly challenges that version of events and leaves unclear the status of any conversations.
It also draws attention to how quickly boxing rumors can spread when attached to two recognizable names. Haney and Stevenson have been linked in fan discussions for years, making the match an easy target for speculation.
For Devin Haney, the math just doesn’t add up. Why take a technical masterclass against Shakur Stevenson, where the chance of looking bad or losing on points is high, when a $20 million+ payday against Ryan Garcia is already targeted for September 5th at Allegiant Stadium?
Outboxing Shakur is a tall order for anyone. Shakur’s hit and don’t hit philosophy makes him a nightmare for fighters who rely on timing and size.
If Devin loses a dull 12-round decision to Shakur, he loses his WBO welterweight title and his leverage as a champion.
Ryan Garcia predicted today that the fight would not take place, saying that neither man was likely to face the other.
“There’s no way Devin is going to fight Shakur or vice versa. I’ll bet anything on that,” Ryan said on X.
At the moment, the clearest public statement belongs to Stevenson, and it was blunt: no talks, no contact, no agreement.
