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“Right Now We Are in the Same Weight Class and I Am the King of the Division”: Devin Haney Claps Back at Shakur Stevenson Over Sparring Remarks

Published 04/15/2023, 6:05 PM EDT

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The lightweight division is getting exciting by the day. The division now has many formidable matchups which open up the possibility of many exciting bouts. Recently, Shakur Stevenson, the featherweight champion made his lightweight debut with Shuichiro Yoshino. Stevenson managed to defeat and get a finish in the sixth round of their bout.

However, Stevenson is not here to waste time. He is going after the top fighter in the division. Post his victory, the boxer called out Devin Haney, the undisputed lightweight champion. The two share history together as they use to spar during their come-up. Stevenson made some comments about their sparring to which Haney had few words to say.

Devin Haney clears the air about him sparring with Shakur Stevenson

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Haney is a very talented fighter. In a short space of time, the lightweight champion has achieved what many can only dream of. Recently, the boxer was giving an interview “DAZN” in which the interviewer asked him his response to the comments made by Stevenson claiming he got the better of him in sparring. To which, he had a very comprehensive answer.

He mentioned that the two sparred years ago when they were not known names in boxing. How the spar went has no bearing on how the two fighters compete today. As a matter of fact, he thinks he got the better of Stevenson too at times. He stated, “Mean he was 14 years old. No, The last time we sparred I was 16 and he was 17. The sparring was back and forth. There were times he got the best of me there were times I got the best of him. I mean if we count those then it is what it is. What we did when we were kids has nothing to do with us now.”

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Sparring is quite different than an actual fight. Haney points out the fact that even the spars took place many years ago.

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There were many sparring partners who got the better of him in sparring but never truly got the recognition and achievement Haney has under his belt.

He revealed, “It was a lot of guys who got the best of me when we were kids and look where they are now. they are not even boxing. Right now we are in the same weight class and I am the king of the division.”

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Haney is set to face Vasyl Lomachenko on May 20. The fight is no walk in the park for the champion. Though, if he is the victor in the bout he can potentially fight Stevenson in a super fight. If the fight does take place, how do you see it playing out? Who do you think will get better off the other? Let us know your thoughts and opinions with us in the comments below.

Watch This Story: 5 Times Vasyl Lomachenko Showed Impregnable Defense

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Written by:

Harddit Bedi

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Harddit Bedi is a passionate Boxing writer at EssentiallySports, who specializes in covering the off-court drama of athletes. He has a keen interest in the untold stories of boxers. Harddit is a firm believer in the primal nature of boxing, which he views as the oldest and most fundamental sport known to mankind.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha