Boxers are jumping the line to land biggest fights

After some drama earlier this week, it seems the megafight between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson that the two teased on social media isn't happening anytime soon. And for once, two boxing superstars avoiding each other for the time being is a good thing.

Devin Haney is a welterweight who just started campaigning at 147 lbs last November. Shakur Stevenson is a natural lightweight who has had one fight at 140 lbs. While Shakur Stevenson says he could move up to 147 lbs before his career is over, he is in no rush to do so at the moment.

Meanwhile, Devin Haney just moved up to welterweight, and going back down, even to a catchweight of 144 lbs, to fight Shakur wouldn't be an easy weight cut.

Of course, there are also plenty of reasons for the two to lace 'em up against each other.

They are two of the biggest names in the sport. They probably should have fought each other years ago when both were around the same weight and within the same promotional circles. And they are two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.

Meanwhile, the reason they shouldn't fight is singular, but way more compelling.

Boxers jump weight classes despite viable options

While the back-and-forth between fighters on social media is entertaining, it's also frustrating when nothing comes of all the talking.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of options for all of these fighters in their respective weight classes.

Last week, Keyshawn Davis was named as the number one contender for Devin Haney´s WBO welterweight title. That is a great fight between two high-level boxers.

Shakur Stevenson has his pick of the litter at 140 lbs., one of boxing's deepest divisions. He could face Alberto Puello or Gary Antuanne Russell (who is reportedly in discussions to face Pitbull Cruz). He also has intriguing options at 135 lbs, like Raymond Muratalla.

O'Shaquie Foster had a great performance recently in a fight against Ray Ford, who is good friends with Shakur. Foster and Stevenson have bad blood, and Foster has called out Stevenson for a fight, which he accepted.

The problem is that Foster is fighting at 130 lbs, and Shakur would almost certainly want to make that fight at 140 lbs.

Fans want to see that fight as well due to the bad blood between the two, but while Foster doesn't have a ton of great options at junior lightweight, he does have one great option in Emanuel Navarrete, who holds two of the belts in the division and is Ring magazine's top 130 lber.

I say all that to say, can everyone just fight the people in their own damned weight class?

All of these fighters seem to want to jump around to find fights across different weight classes, even though each of them has viable fights ready to be made right where they are. Part of the problem seems to be that everyone wants their biggest pay opportunities now.

Navarette vs. Foster is a great fight, but it doesn't have nearly the blockbuster potential of a fight against Shakur.

Keyshawn Davis vs. Devin Haney is another great fight, but once again, a fight against Shakur is more lucrative for Haney. Meanwhile, Shakur would also have a bigger payday facing Haney than he would for any other fighter not named Gervonta Davis.

But (most of) those big-money fights will be there for them later if they want them. In the meantime, all of these fighters have unfinished business in their own divisions that they should probably handle first.

Related: Is a Haney vs. Stevenson megafight up next?

Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 9:13 AM.