Devin Haney has made the decision to move up to super-lightweight to challenge for a fresh world title after gaining all four belts at 135lbs.
Following a victory over Vasily Lomachenko, Haney was faced with a choice to defend his undisputed status against mandatory challenger, Shakur Stevenson, or fulfil a longtime promise to jump up in weight.
He landed on the latter, and is slated to announce a fight with 140lbs WBC champ, Regis Prograis. Despite that call, he petitioned with the sanctioning body to keep his belt at lightweight at the same time.
Prograis – who promises to knock Haney ‘the f**k out’ – told ES News that his rival was trying to have a ‘protection plan.’
“It’s bulls**t – he can’t keep his belts. Mauricio [WBC] should strip him, let somebody else fight for all them belts at 135.
He tryna have a protection plan. He tryna come up to 140, see if he can get this belt – which he not gonna get, I’m gonna knock him the f**k out, beat him up bad – and then try to have a cushion at 135 to say ‘I’m still undisputed.’
No. We not doing that. If you coming to fight me, you stay at 140. You gotta fight me for my belt, and that’s how it’s gonna be. Have confidence in yourself. I signed my part, now it’s on him to sign his part.”
Despite the protestations from Prograis, Haney will be named ‘champion-in-recess’ when he makes the move up for their fight.
In the meantime, Stevenson will be ordered to fight the WBC’s top contender – currently Lomachenko – and Haney will have the right to a fight with the winner should he decide to move back down to lightweight.