It all made sense. Devin Haney welcomes Shakur Stevenson after clinching the undisputed Lightweight crown. Until it didn’t. ‘The Dream’ has moved up and is chasing legacy in the super lightweight division to take on Regis Prograis. Meanwhile, ‘Sugar’ Stevenson is now fighting for the vacant WBC lightweight title against Edwin De Los Santo in Las Vegas next Thursday. That sums up what’s wrong with the boxing world currently. And the only loser could be Haney. How?

Neither are the fights that the fans want. The fans wanted a clash where Stevenson steps up from super featherweight and tries to dislodge Haney from his undisputed lightweight throne. However, that didn’t happen. Haney moved up to 140 pounds to secure another title, albeit in a different weight class. But what’s next for him if he wins and dismantles the 34-year-old Prograis, who is barely scrapping wins now? The American is in a state of flux.

Shakur Stevenson threatens to snatch Lightweight supremo tag from Devin Haney

Stevenson’s offensive skills, ability to infight, and quickness set him apart. Few match his skill set, and it might be safe to argue that he beats Edwin De Los Santos to the vacant title. That not only firmly establishes the 26-year-old as a champion but also as a daunting lightweight.

That further opens the gates of opportunity for Stevenson. Next time there are negotiations for a potential showdown between Stevenson and Haney, the scales will be titled in his favor. That 25/75 split? Flip it out of the window.

But that doesn’t stop the Newark native from envisioning a match with Haney. He disclosed to TMZ in a seething tone, “It ain’t really a hope. It’s ‘I dare him,’ like I dare him to come back to 135 [lbs.] and try me. Like, I pray that that’s what he plans on doing. And I can show the world I’m the truth.”

Haney would be in a conundrum. Should he march ahead with his dreams of conquering a second division or hold on to what he possesses in the lightweight division? Whatever the case, Stevenson will be a more prominent name, a better fighter, and a PPV cash cow. Something that Haney failed to acknowledge.

A purse split that caused a debacle and bad blood

When Stevenson dropped Shuichiro Yoshino on the mat in April, he knew he would receive an offer from the lightweight enforcer. But he imagined it to be that low. Stevenson knew his worth, and that 25/75 split insulted his status as a two-weight champion.

“Nah I’m not going to take 25%, but you knew that already, be realistic,” Stevenson wrote on his X-handle. What followed next was a verbal war on the social media handles, which never spilled over to the ring. Things got steamy when Stevenson shared a video of him playfully sparring on a YouTube show, which drew Haney’s “corny” comment.

Read More: “He Putting All The A** On The Seats”: Months After Fight Debacle, Shakur Stevenson Downplays Devin Haney’s PPV Selling Power While Naming Two Best Fighters At 135 In Resurfaced Clip

Following this, Stevenson dragged Haney’s father into the mix, and Haney hit back, targeting Stevenson’s mother. Then, there were a couple of leaked sparring videos. The sparks were there, and the intensity also suggested a fight next. But it didn’t happen. The long wait and the shenanigans of Haney’s camp have left Stevenson furious, and he is ready to move on to bigger names.

Shakur Stevenson has moved past Devin Haney and is eyeing other big shots

Stevenson wanted Haney, but he might even land Gervonta Davis. He believes the chances of a probable fight with ‘Tank’ are higher than squaring off against Haney. His minced words reflected hope when he talked to Fight Hype. He expressed, “I got a lot more faith in the Tank fight happening before Devin fight.”

Stevenson believes Davis is a competitor. He added, “I know deep down inside he want to prove to the world that he’ll beat me. As well as I want to prove to the world that I’ll beat him.”

Stevenson is not far removed from reality. Stevenson’s bout with Davis, touted to be the future of boxing, is a mouthwatering fight. That’s a guaranteed PPV blockbuster. Haney might have moved up as a champion, but after this coming Thursday, Stevenson will call shots in a division that once belonged to him. And Haney might have to blame himself.

What do you make of Devin Haney ditching a fight with Shakur Stevenson? Do you believe it’s a dead fight? Let us know in the comments below.

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