Two-division world champion and current lightweight title contender, Shakur Stevenson, has called out Devin Haney for ‘running away’ from him following his clash with Vasily Lomachenko earlier this year.
Stevenson seemed destined to fight the winner of Haney-Lomachenko. Haney, the undisputed champion, successfully defended his lightweight crown via a relatively controversial split-decision.
In an interview on the 2nd Wind Podcast, Stevenson explained that he had planned to step through the ropes after the fight.
“I’m going to keep it one hundred, I know Devin will press people out. He’s the type of person that will jump into the ring, with several different people on several different occasions, right?
He jumped in the ring with Ryan Garcia, he jumped into the ring on [Vasyl] Lomachenko right after he fought Jamaine Ortiz. So, in my brain, I’d just fought, when I fought they said that Devin had called in and said that they are staying at 135lbs.”
However, when he did so, there was no face off or fighting talk exchanged. Instead, the four-belt champion left the ring.
“Now, it’s his fight [versus Lomachenko], I know that I am next, in my brain I’m thinking that’s the fight that’s supposed to be next. I go and get in the ring, by myself, it’s just me there’s no security guards, nobody with me.”
“That man looked at me, said something quick and then hurried up and got out of the ring. I’m like ‘that’s weird, ain’t we supposed to be fighting? Why are you running away? What’s going on? Are you scared?’
I don’t know what it was, I was just checking the temperature, that’s all.”
Haney has since confirmed that he will move up to super-lightweight to challenge champion Regis Prograis, thus becoming WBC lightweight champion in recess.
Stevenson will fight for the vacant belt as mandatory challenger, but has become frustrated at the lack of opponents willing to step in with him.