“If I come to 144.. we have a fight?” Haney said on X.
Stevenson’s answer left little room for interpretation.
“Yes,” Shakur replied.
The exchange came shortly after Stevenson defended his proposal for a catchweight bout.
“144 is fair for 2 champions in 2 separate weight classes, Floyd and Canelo made one of the biggest fights ever happen at a catch weight.. If yall seriously wanted the fight it would be easy to make , Yall fought Jose Ramirez at that weight 2 fights ago,” Shakur posted.
While some observers viewed the request as Shakur seeking a three-pound advantage over a reigning welterweight champion, Haney’s own history at the weight complicates that argument.
Haney faced Jose Ramirez at a 144-pound catchweight in May 2025, weighing in at 143 pounds for the contest. Rather than appearing weakened by the contracted limit, Haney delivered one of his sharpest performances in recent years. Using his speed and timing, he controlled Ramirez throughout the bout and earned a wide unanimous decision victory.
That previous success at 144 pounds may explain why Haney appeared open to revisiting the weight despite now holding the WBO welterweight title.
Shakur, meanwhile, wasn’t dwelling on negotiations for long. Moments after publicly accepting Haney’s proposal, the unbeaten champion was already looking beyond the fight itself.
“FIGHTER OF THE YEAR ME AFTER THIS!!” said Stevenson.
He followed that prediction with another message directed toward those who have questioned his standing among the sport’s elite.
“IM GONE SHOW YALL HOW GREAT I AM KEEP PLAYING ON MY NAME”
Defeating Haney would represent the signature victory critics have argued is missing from Shakur’s record. For Haney, agreeing to the catchweight removes one of the most frequently cited obstacles to making the bout.
Public exchanges do not guarantee contracts will be signed, and issues such as purse splits and broadcast arrangements still need to be resolved. However, both fighters have now publicly agreed to the same weight.
Shakur’s attention quickly shifted from negotiating terms to discussing what a victory over Haney could mean for his standing in the sport. The unbeaten champion was already talking about a potential Fighter of the Year campaign.
Read the full article here