The breakdown of the talks has left fans wondering when, or if, the two elite fighters will ever share the ring. In the wake of the failed negotiations, Stevenson announced that he has parted ways with Zuffa Boxing after signing with Dana White’s promotional outfit earlier this year. Even now, it remains entirely unclear when his next outing will actually take place. The 29-year-old has not fought since his stellar performance in January, when he decisively dethroned Teofimo Lopez to capture the WBO super-lightweight title.
Haney, meanwhile, has also been inactive for a significant stretch, having not competed since November 2025. In that impressive outing, he delivered a masterclass to unanimously outpoint and topple Brian Norman Jr, capturing the WBO welterweight title in the process. Having recently signed an exclusive, high-profile deal with DAZN, however, the landscape has shifted, and it has now been officially announced that Haney will enter a major unification match with IBF champion Liam Paro on December 19.
If Haney manages to emerge victorious against Paro, he would certainly be open to revisiting a potential showdown with Stevenson. However, speaking candidly with Inside The Ring, the 27-year-old made it unequivocally clear that he has absolute zero interest in draining his body to fight below the welterweight limit of 147 pounds.
Detailing how close the previous fight came to happening and where the negotiations ultimately went awry, Haney explained that he had already made significant concessions to accommodate a catchweight before talks completely fell apart.
“I knew that it was a big fight – I knew that the fans were demanding it – so I said, ‘You know what, I will come to 144,’” Haney revealed during his interview with Inside The Ring.
According to the welterweight champion, his willingness to compromise was met with silence from the other side of the negotiating table, prompting him to offer yet another concession in an effort to get the blockbuster bout over the line for the boxing public.
“[Stevenson] went radio silent. Then I said, ‘Let’s do it at 145.’ He went radio silent again,” Haney continued, expressing his frustration with how the discussions ultimately dissolved.
Given his current status as a reigning champion and the physical toll of draining his frame, Haney insisted that any future negotiations would have to take place strictly within his current weight division. He firmly shut the door on any future attempts to negotiate catchweights that would force him down the scales.
“I wouldn’t revisit going back down in weight. I’d revisit the fight, but I’m a 147lb champion, I’m the best in the division, I’m the No.1 guy… why should I need to cut [more] weight?” Haney stated.
Reiterating his position regarding division boundaries and natural weight classes, Haney added a direct challenge to his rival regarding where the fight should ultimately happen if Stevenson truly wants the opportunity to test himself against boxing’s elite.
“If he’s a 135-pounder or 140-pounder, [Stevenson should] stay there,” Haney concluded.
While the exact trajectory of Haney’s career is firmly locked onto his upcoming December 19 unification showdown against Liam Paro on DAZN, the future remains much less certain for Stevenson as he navigates his next career moves under his new promotional banner. While a matchup with Haney is currently on hold due to the welterweight champion’s firm stance on the weight limit, other intriguing options are beginning to surface in the lower weight classes. Notably, Raymond Muratalla has emerged as a possible next opponent for Stevenson after officially becoming the WBO mandatory challenger at 140 pounds, keeping potential championship fights on the horizon even as the rivalry with Haney simmers in the background.
