“Lying Just Like His Daddy”: Shakur Stevenson Lashes Out at Devin Haney for Making “Pushing Out of Position” Remarks Over Fight Debacle

If the fans have their way, all the top-tier boxers will fight each other. But reality hits hard when two of the best fighters move away or pause from a fight they fancied the most. Many die-hards still lament the delay in the Floyd Mayweather Jr.–Manny Pacquiao fight. Most followers are still unsure how long they might have to wait for the Canelo Alvarez–David Benavidez bout. In recent times, a match between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson could have been a sight to behold.

But for the failed negotiations, the then-undisputed Lightweight champion and the former two-division champion could have scripted an in-ring technical masterpiece. Much water has flown under the bridge, and both warriors have moved on to subsequent projects. However, resentment at the collapse of the talks and attempts to pin the blame on the other side continue to fester. Devin Haney poured his heart out in Ariel Helwani‘s studio. But Shakur Stevenson would have none of it.

All fingers point at Shakur Stevenson, says Devin Haney

During the ‘The MMA Hour interview,’ Helwani asked Devin Haney for his opinion on the Shakur Stevenson fight. He wanted to know whether it was within reach. ‘The Dream’ replied, “We presented…we presented the fight if…if he would have said yes to the offer that I offered him, then the fight would have been…been made, so however close that is…” Then, the ace sports journalist checked on the 25% split for the New Jersey-born southpaw.

Haney confirmed that 25% would have been more than the sum from all the bouts he fought. When Ariel Helwani asked him whether Stevenson’s response surprised him, the latter said, “Yeah, um, I think his ego, you know, made him say no, you know, um, his ego and the people around him, uh, also, I don’t feel like he truly wanted to fight. I think he really wanted to just push me out of position and uh.”

The MMA Hour host asked him to elaborate more. ‘The Dream’ responded that Shakur Stevenson preferred to fight another contender for the vacant belt, the WBC one, instead of fighting him. The Lightweight champion continued that Stevenson’s response barely surprised him. It was just another promotional gambit at the end of the day. Haney said, “…you know, clout and to push me out of position, so it is what it is he…he chose that route, and uh, maybe one day we we we’ll still get it on.”

A sugary counterpunch

It didn’t take much time for the man at the other end of the failed deal to take note and launch a riposte. Shakur Stevenson wrote to his X account, “Lying just like his daddy… I can’t push nobody out of position; that’s the undisputed champion.” He argued that Haney could have moved out of position only if he had decided to do so on purpose. When faced with a more straightforward choice, he opted to take the initiative and challenge Regis Prograis.

Thus closing another chapter in the Haney-Stevenson saga. Time alone will tell when their book is over. In the meantime, ‘Sugar’ will meet Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas for the WBC belt vacated by Devin Haney on November 16. On the other hand, the Dream will kickstart his campaign in the Light Welterweight division by going against ‘Rougarou’ on December 9 at San Francisco’s Chase Center.

Read More: Who Is the Better Boxer Between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson?: Gervonta Davis, Who Sparred Both, Answers the Burning Question

Do you think Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney should make one attempt to get a fight going? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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