Shakur Stevenson has hit the brakes following reports that he is in preliminary talks to fight Devin Haney.

Both elite Americans have claims to pound-for-pound status, both boast undefeated records and are considered among the most defensively gifted operators of the contemporary era.

However, a weight class or two has always separated them, and Haney’s recent move to welterweight – a division Stevenson says he can get to but is in no rush – seemed to make that fight less likely.

To make that happen, Stevenson said he would like Haney to agree to a catchweight of 144 pounds, the same limit he reached when defeating Jose Ramirez in 2025.

Today, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that discussions had already begun, but the weight was a sticking point, with Stevenson likely still insisting on the stipulation, but Haney was keen on staying at 147 pounds.

However, Stevenson has now responded to Coppinger’s claim by speaking further X that there was no contact between the teams.

“I know the fans like to get excited and can toy with you all and easily manipulate you, but this rumor is dead for the second time. I haven’t heard a word about it, [I don’t know] what are they? [trying to] hide or hide, but me and my team haven’t heard any nonsense.”

It’s unclear where Haney and Stevenson will go next Haney is reportedly considering a move to Zuffa Boxing and Stevenson are still deciding which division to compete in.

For now, it seems any excitement about their meeting on the ropes is premature.

“I know the fans like to get excited and could play games with you all and easily manipulate you, but this rumor is dead for the second time,” Shakur said on X, reacting to reports of his negotiations with Devin Haney. “I haven’t heard a word about it, I don’t know what they’re trying to cover up or hide, but for me and my team, we haven’t heard any nonsense.”

The denial came shortly after reports spread that Haney and Stevenson were talking about fighting, with weight believed to be a major issue slowing progress. Stevenson’s response directly challenges this version of events and leaves the status of any talks unclear.

It also highlights how quickly boxing rumors can spread when they are linked to two recognizable names. Haney and Stevenson have been mentioned in fan discussions for years, making this matchup an basic target for speculation.

For Devin Haney, the math just doesn’t add up. Why take a technical masterclass against Shakur Stevenson where the risk of looking bad or losing points is high when a $20 million-plus payout against Ryan Garcia is already scheduled for September 5 at Allegiant Stadium?

Dispatching Shakur is a hard task for anyone. Shakur’s hit-and-don’t-get-hit philosophy makes him a nightmare for fighters who rely on timing and size.

If Devin loses a 12-round decision to Shakur, he will lose the WBO welterweight title and his advantage as champion.

Ryan Garcia predicted today that the fight will not happen, posting that neither man is likely to face the other.

“There’s no way Devin would fight Shakur or vice versa. I would bet everything on it,” Ryan said on the X show.

The clearest public statement at the moment is Stevenson’s, and it is blunt: no talks, no contact, no agreement.

David Benavidez believes one of the sport’s flagship champions is actively avoiding him, claiming there were “plenty of opportunities” for this fight to happen.

The WBC lithe heavyweight champion is widely regarded as a top 10 pound-for-pound operator capable of significantly enhancing his legacy over the next few years.

The next opportunity to do so will come on May 2, when Benavidez will try to become a three-division world champion against WBO and WBA cruiserweight champion Gilberto Ramirez.

Regardless of the result this weekend, the 29-year-old said he will drop down to 175 pounds and enter an undisputed fight with Dmitry Bivol.

The unified lithe heavyweight champion is preparing to defend his titles against mandatory challenger Michael Eifert, who will headline the event at the UMMC Arena in Russia on May 30.

This is his first appearance since defeating Artur Beterbiev in a direct rematch, where Bivol took revenge by majority vote in February 2025.

If he wants to become a two-time undisputed king, the 35-year-old will eventually have to face Benavidez, who insists he defeated their sparring session about eight years ago.

By that time, both fighters had already played multiple rounds, and Benavidez had said Ariel Helwani that Bivol emerged from the last sparring session with significantly less confidence.

“They can say whatever they want… He felt my power up close and personal. I felt his power up close and personal too, but I overcame it. I won better in our last sparring session.”

“I won’t let it go to my head because I know I have to come extremely prepared, but that’s how I feel [sparring session] somehow it stuck in his head.

“We had a lot of opportunities to make this fight happen, but it didn’t happen, so I think that speaks for itself.”

Benavidez was promoted from “interim” to full WBC champion after Bivol vacated the belt last year, but that was mainly due to the Russian having to undergo back surgery.