“You’ve the contract. Sign it.”
Stevenson quickly fired back on X.
“Shut yo ass up and vacate that belt so I could beat yall ass,” said Shakur.
The comments appear to reference the growing complications surrounding Haney’s WBO welterweight title. WBO President Gustavo Olivieri has repeatedly stated that Haney’s next obligation is a compulsory defense against top-ranked contender Keyshawn Davis.
That mandatory position has change into a significant obstacle to a Haney-Stevenson fight. If Haney proceeds with a non-title catchweight bout against Stevenson as a substitute of facing Keyshawn, he would likely be stripped of the WBO belt.
Shakur has previously indicated that he’s more all for making the fight than preserving the championship stakes. His latest comments suggest he wants Haney to remove the WBO issue entirely by vacating the title and moving forward with negotiations.
The 2 sides have spent weeks discussing a possible fight, with much of the general public debate centered on weight. Shakur initially signaled a willingness to fulfill Haney at a 144-pound catchweight before the talks became complicated by the WBO’s mandatory requirements.
The situation has placed Haney in a difficult position. A fight against Stevenson is viewed by many fans as the larger event, however the WBO has made clear that Keyshawn is next in line for a title shot.
The negotiations remain unresolved, but Shakur’s latest post leaves little doubt about where he stands. If Haney wants the fight, Shakur believes the best solution is to vacate the belt and take away the mandatory challenger from the equation.