“What’s up with the 144 you said out your mouth?” Bill Haney said in a video shared by Fight Hub TV, pressing Stevenson and his team to maneuver negotiations forward.
Stevenson responded directly on X.
“Drop the belt and let’s make it occur then what’s the delay Billy boy.”
The demand marks a shift in the general public discussion surrounding the fight. When Stevenson and Haney first exchanged messages about meeting at 144 kilos, the main target was on agreeing to a catchweight moderately than Haney relinquishing his WBO title.
Since then, the WBO has ordered Haney to make a compulsory defense against Keyshawn Davis, creating a possible obstacle to the Stevenson fight. Nevertheless, Shakur has not explained why Haney must vacate the belt before negotiations can proceed, moderately than allowing the sanctioning body to rule on the mandatory or exploring alternatives reminiscent of a delay or step-aside agreement.
From Haney’s perspective, if Shakur says:
“Drop the belt after which we’ll make the fight.”
The subsequent query is:
“What’s my guarantee?”
Once Haney vacates, he has already given up something of value. If negotiations then collapse over money, a rematch clause, purse split, venue, broadcast rights, or the rest, Haney has lost his WBO title with nothing to indicate for it.
That’s why, in boxing, fighters generally don’t give away leverage unless there’s a signed contract contingent on it. If Shakur’s condition is real, Haney’s team could say:
“Wonderful. We’ll vacate after the contracts are signed.”
Or:
“We’ll vacate concurrently with the official fight announcement.”
That protects Haney. Without those protections, Haney can be taking all the chance.
His comments have created fresh questions since the clearest immediate consequence of Haney vacating the title can be opening the door for Keyshawn to fight for the vacant championship. Shakur and Davis have long described one another as close friends, with Stevenson repeatedly referring to the Norfolk native as his “brother” and insisting he would never fight him.
Any connection between the 2 stays unclear, and the unbeaten former three-division champion has offered no public explanation beyond insisting Haney “drop the belt.”
The proposed Haney-Shakur fight stays unsigned, with Haney also facing the WBO’s deadline to barter terms for a compulsory defense against Keyshawn unless the title situation changes.