Stevenson has already been linked to similar issues. He reportedly wanted a 10-lb rehydration limit for a fight with Conor Benn at 147, which Benn’s side refused. He also wanted either a 144-lb catchweight or a fight at 140 for a possible Ryan Garcia fight.
That is the pattern now. Shakur is calling for bigger fights, but he has not shown much interest in moving up and taking those fights without some kind of weight protection attached.
Haney is a different problem than Benn or Garcia because he has already moved above lightweight and looked physically suited for higher divisions. If the fight is being discussed at 147, Haney would have little reason to accept terms that cut into his size after the weigh-in.
The fight itself still makes sense. Haney and Shakur are unbeaten, skilled, and well-known enough to sell the matchup on names alone. The issue is whether Stevenson wants the fight badly enough to meet Haney at the weight without extra limits.
Unless a massive site fee, like a Zuffa Boxing or Riyadh Season offer, makes the money too big to ignore, it’s hard to see Devin and his dad, Bill Haney, budging. He’s already signaled that if Shakur won’t fight on “open terms,” they have other options, including a massive rematch with Ryan Garcia targeted for September 2026 or a unification with Rolly Romero.
Bill’s philosophy is usually: “If you want the crown, come to the weight class and fight the man.” Asking for a 10-lb limit at 147 is essentially asking Devin not to be a welterweight on fight night.
