Devin Haney Faces Friday Deadline: WBC Pushes Decision On Regis Prograis or Shakur Stevenson Showdown

Photo: Instagram/Devin Haney

The WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman, has issued a Friday deadline, July 21st, for Devin Haney to make a critical decision regarding his next fight.

Haney, currently holding the WBC lightweight title, must choose between moving up to the 140-pound division to challenge WBC champion Regis Prograis or staying at 135 to defend against mandatory challenger Shakur Stevenson.

Seemingly, Haney has already made up his mind, expressing a clear intention to face the WBC light welterweight champion, Prograis. In response to Prograis' inquiry about their potential fight in November, Haney confidently interjected, stating it would happen in October.

Photo: Instagram/Devin Haney

Haney's decision to face Prograis stems from a belief that the champion's skills have deteriorated, with signs of sluggish footwork and declining abilities. Prograis' lackluster victory over Danielito Zorrilla in his last bout further supports Haney's confidence in this matchup.

Credit is due to Haney and his father, Bill, for their astute assessment of opponents. They seem to have carefully selected Prograis due to his perceived weaknesses, notably his slower movements and advanced age, making him an ideal opponent for Haney's boxing style and movement.

The WBC's ultimatum is a positive development, pushing Haney to make a decision and avoid neglecting his mandatory challenger, Shakur Stevenson. Otherwise, he might have continued holding onto his lightweight title without engaging in a mandatory bout.

An interesting twist occurred when Teofimo Lopez, the WBO light welterweight champion, expressed his desire to fight Haney after coming out of retirement. However, Lopez's enthusiasm seems to have waned, as he has remained silent on the matter ever since.

In the event that Haney has a change of heart about facing Prograis, he will still face a deadline to choose between Shakur or vacating the WBC title. Nonetheless, it appears highly unlikely that Haney will opt for a bout against Shakur, as their styles do not favor him.

As for Gervonta Davis, there have been no indications of him wanting to fight Haney, possibly hinting at a rematch with Isaac Cruz as his next direction.

In conclusion, the deadline set by the WBC compels Devin Haney to make a pivotal choice, and while Teofimo Lopez briefly expressed interest, Haney appears firmly committed to facing Regis Prograis, avoiding the challenging matchup with Shakur Stevenson.

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Source: Boxing News 24