Devin Haney’s hunt for a next opponent just got a loud shove from a familiar rival: Shakur Stevenson says the three-weight world champion has “no other option” left but to move up and face unified super-welterweight champion Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
Haney hasn’t boxed since outpointing Brian Norman Jr to win the WBO welterweight title in November, becoming a three-weight world champion in the process. He had been lined up to face Keyshawn Davis next — but that plan fell apart when Davis withdrew, leaving ‘The Dream’ with an empty dance card. Our Devin Haney next-fight tracker lays out just how quickly the picture has shifted.
Why Shakur Stevenson is pushing Devin Haney toward Boots Ennis
In comments carried by Boxing News Online, Stevenson ran through the shortlist and landed hard on one name.
You said you’d fight Conor Benn? You said you’d find Xander. Why the f**k you don’t say you want to fight Boots now? Matter of fact, you’ve got no other option. There’s nobody else on the table. There’s no me, there’s no Key[shawn Davis], there’s no Rolly. Who do you go to? Boots is free. Go get him.
Ennis has options of his own — he’s been linked with IBF welterweight champion Josh Kelly and unbeaten star Vergil Ortiz — and it is far from certain Haney fancies a jump to 154lbs. But with the rest of the field thinning out, Stevenson’s challenge is one Haney may struggle to talk his way around.
