Bill Haney Reacts To Shakur Stevenson’s Retirement Announcement

Bill Haney, the father of super lightweight belt holder Devin Haney, has reacted to Shakur Stevenson announcing on X that he is retiring from boxing.

Stevenson is one of the hottest young talents in the sport. He has been a unified super featherweight champion with wins over Oscar Valdez, Jamel Herring and Robson Conceicao and now holds the WBO lightweight title after beating Edwin De Los Santos in November.

Many people think this is the result of frustration at not being able to get the big fights he craves after a less than thrilling last time out. Age just 26, he announced his retirement but said he would remain in the gym perfecting his game. 

In a video on social media posted to FightHype, Haney Senior wondered how legitimate the retirement news really was.

“We got a recent retirement, or is it a publicity stunt with the Stevenson team? Coach Wally Moses was concentrating on the yesteryear, we all was blindsided with the present that it might be some frustration with Shakur Stevenson.”

He then says he knows it takes time for fighters to get used to the limelight and wished Stevenson well.

“I told everyone, the development, give the guy time, let him develop. Being in the light inside and outside the ring takes time, takes work, and if he’s retiring and getting it together, or is it a publicity stunt and he’s getting it together, I wish him well.”

Oscar De La Hoya also responded to the news in fairly blunt fashion by wishing Stevenson well but telling him to vacant his title.