Bill Haney has clarified his son Devin Haney’s immediate plans, confirming the camp will prioritize making a fight with Shakur Stevenson over a looming mandatory title defense. The statement directly addresses pressure from the WBO, which is expected to order Haney to face welterweight challenger Keyshawn Davis by early July.
The Haney camp is navigating a classic conflict between a high-profile commercial fight and a sanctioning body obligation. A bout between two of the sport’s most skilled technicians in Haney and Stevenson would generate significant fan interest. However, Davis holds the mandatory position, giving him the right to challenge for the title next. By pursuing Stevenson, Haney risks being stripped of his WBO belt if a deal cannot be reached to delay the mandatory defense. Bill Haney acknowledged the governing body’s authority before outlining his preference.
He stated: “I respect the WBO. I respect the rules.” He immediately followed this by appealing to a different authority—the fans. “I also believe that boxing belongs to the people.” This sets up the camp’s primary justification for seeking the Stevenson fight ahead of the mandatory obligation.
Bill Haney made the public’s preference clear. “The people have made it clear they want to see Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson share the ring, and we’ll do our part to see if that fight can be made.” With that, the path is set. The team will first exhaust negotiations for the Stevenson fight, a matchup that has been gaining momentum through public exchanges between the fighters. But the statement also provided a clear fallback plan, ensuring they do not completely disregard the WBO’s mandate. If the preferred bout cannot be finalized, the camp is prepared to pivot. “If not, Keyshawn Davis next.”
