The long-awaited clash between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson is closer than ever after the two rivals finally verbally agreed to a catchweight overnight.

​Negotiations for the blockbuster bout had previously stalled over the contracted limit, unsurprising given the difference in their recent career trajectories. Haney has now established himself at 147lbs, capturing the WBO welterweight world title last November with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Brian Norman Jr. in Riyadh. He was, at one stage, insistent on a bona fide 147lb clash if he was to face Stevenson.

​Stevenson, meanwhile, has only just arrived at 140lbs. The Newark southpaw officially became a four-weight world champion in January when he put on a masterclass to thoroughly outpoint Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden. Despite his flawless transition to super-lightweight, Stevenson had been heavily pushing for a much lower 144lb catchweight against Haney, leading to a bitter public stalemate. Haney also hit back at attempts to include a rehydration clause.

​The obstacle appeared to he finally overcome during a late-night exchange on X when Stevenson publicly accepted Haney’s counter-offer to meet in the middle at 145lbs.

​Confirming the newly proposed limit, Stevenson said: “You got a deal.”

145.0 U GOT A DEAL DEEHOE!!!!

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) October 8, 2026

​Crucially, there was no mention of the rehydration clause that Haney had previously urged Stevenson to drop. The absence of that stipulation in the overnight exchange suggests that secondary hurdle may also have been quietly cleared.

​While anything official may be days or weeks away the public compromise removes the biggest stated obstacle to the fight. Both men are coming off career-defining championship victories, and with the weight dispute seemingly resolved, the pressure is now firmly on both camps to put pen to paper and deliver one of the most significant fights in US boxing.

The long-awaited clash between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson is closer than ever after the two rivals finally verbally agreed to a catchweight overnight.

​Negotiations for the blockbuster bout had previously stalled over the contracted limit, unsurprising given the difference in their recent career trajectories. Haney has now established himself at 147lbs, capturing the WBO welterweight world title last November with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Brian Norman Jr. in Riyadh. He was, at one stage, insistent on a bona fide 147lb clash if he was to face Stevenson.

​Stevenson, meanwhile, has only just arrived at 140lbs. The Newark southpaw officially became a four-weight world champion in January when he put on a masterclass to thoroughly outpoint Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden. Despite his flawless transition to super-lightweight, Stevenson had been heavily pushing for a much lower 144lb catchweight against Haney, leading to a bitter public stalemate. Haney also hit back at attempts to include a rehydration clause.

​The obstacle appeared to he finally overcome during a late-night exchange on X when Stevenson publicly accepted Haney’s counter-offer to meet in the middle at 145lbs.

​Confirming the newly proposed limit, Stevenson said: “You got a deal.”

145.0 U GOT A DEAL DEEHOE!!!!

— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) October 8, 2026

​Crucially, there was no mention of the rehydration clause that Haney had previously urged Stevenson to drop. The absence of that stipulation in the overnight exchange suggests that secondary hurdle may also have been quietly cleared.

​While anything official may be days or weeks away the public compromise removes the biggest stated obstacle to the fight. Both men are coming off career-defining championship victories, and with the weight dispute seemingly resolved, the pressure is now firmly on both camps to put pen to paper and deliver one of the most significant fights in US boxing.

Jake Paul wants Canelo AlvarezRyan Garciaand Deontay Wilder, but his knockout loss to Anthony Joshua makes those ambitions harder to sell. Calling out bigger names keeps him in the conversation. Getting them into the ring could require Jake to rebuild with some wins first.

“Before I rest…” Paul wrote on Xlisting potential opponents before tagging Nakisa Bidarian with the instruction: “Make it happen.”

His targets also include Francis Ngannou, Conor McGregor, Sean Strickland, Darren Till, KSI, Chris Eubank, Edgar Berlanga and Tom Aspinall. Jake specifies boxing for Aspinall, boxing and MMA for McGregor, and MMA for Nate Diaz. He adds “World Title” without naming a division or belt.

The Joshua defeat hangs over that entire pitch. Jake can still offer opponents publicity and a commercially attractive event, but another major boxing matchup would invite questions about whether viewers are buying a competitive fight or another knockout.

That could make the bigger names harder to secure. They would have to see enough value in facing Jake to accept the criticism that comes with fighting someone Joshua already stopped. A social media callout gives them little reason to commit.

Jake needs some distance from that loss, and victories would do more for him than another ambitious list. A run of wins could help rebuild interest in what he can accomplish inside the ring. The quality of those opponents would also count. Beating fighters who offer little resistance would leave the same questions waiting when he calls for Canelo or Wilder again.

There is also a difference between selling a comeback and selling a world-title challenge. Jake’s post provides plenty of names for crossover events, but no explanation of how he intends to earn a shot at a belt.

His promotional hustle has kept him visible. After the Joshua knockout, visibility alone may be insufficient to persuade the opponents he wants—or the audience—to buy the next big boxing pitch.

Bidarian has a list to work through. Jake needs to give him a stronger selling point by winning again.