Shakur Stevenson just told "The Ariel Helwani Show" on Wednesday that he's verbally agreed to fight three-division champion Devin Haney for his Zuffa Boxing debut, and if that news doesn't make you sit up and pay attention, you're missing out. This isn't some whispered rumor; Stevenson confirmed Zuffa wants Haney as far as he knows, and he's absolutely "down" for it. Get ready for October, because that's when the WBO 140-pound champion expects this massive clash to go down.
The Fight Details: Belts, Catchweights, And Haney's Silence
Stevenson, with an undefeated record of 25-0 and 11 KOs, holds the WBO 140-pound championship. Haney, on the other hand, rocks the WBO 147-pound belt. The fight with Haney has been talked about at a 144-pound catchweight, which is an interesting compromise right there. Don't expect a title to be on the line, though. Haney has been ordered to defend his welterweight championship against the mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis, so this 144-pound showdown would likely be a non-title affair. Stevenson made it clear his part is done, stating, "Yeah, for sure [I've agreed to it]... I've told them, 'Put my part down.'" The big question now is whether Haney has officially agreed to the fight. He's currently a promotional free agent, even with all the talk about him aligning with Zuffa Boxing.Zuffa's Big Play, Alalshikh's Influence, And DAZN's Missed Shot
Stevenson's signing with Zuffa Boxing was the worst-kept secret in the sport, but the initial move raised eyebrows. Zuffa had previously stated it wouldn't work with rival promoters or boxing's four major sanctioning bodies like the WBA, WBC, WBO, and IBF. However, Stevenson believes Saudi Arabia's Turki Alalshikh financing Zuffa Boxing changes everything. Alalshikh has a history of working with all promoters, which means any fight could be available to Stevenson. He expects to compete on both Alalshikh's Ring Magazine shows and the Zuffa Boxing events on Paramount+, and he confirmed he won't be subject to the branded uniform other fighters wear. Interestingly, Zuffa wasn't the only one trying to land Stevenson; DAZN offered a "big-ass deal" that was "very similar" to Zuffa Boxing's. The problem? DAZN "kind of came too late," and it messed up their chances, even though their rare direct-to-broadcaster deal, similar to Teofimo Lopez's, was a compelling offer. This October debut is shaping up to be a true blockbuster. We're all on standby, waiting for official confirmation from Haney's side, but Stevenson's verbal agreement is a massive statement. Zuffa Boxing isn't playing around, and if this fight happens, it's going to be absolute fire. You won't want to miss it!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.