That immediately invites questions because Stevenson has previously pursued protective terms in other marquee options. He sought a 10-pound rehydration clause in talks for a bout with Conor Benn, a request that was reportedly rejected. He was also linked to wanting either a 144-pound catchweight or a fight at 140 for a showdown with Ryan Garcia.
Those details are important when Haney is the other side of the table. Haney has fought above lightweight and carries the frame of a naturally bigger man. If the proposed meeting is at 147, any rehydration restriction could become a major sticking point because it would directly affect Haney’s size advantage on fight night.
Devin is currently the WBO Welterweight Champion, and both he and Bill have been vocal about the fact that they don’t negotiate against themselves.
Bill Haney’s primary focus has always been Devin’s physical health and performance. Even back at 135 and 140, making weight was a grueling process for Devin. Now that he’s established at 147, asking him to cap his rehydration at 10 lbs is asking him to fight at a physical disadvantage.
The biggest hurdle is the ego and the A-side status. Bill Haney views Devin as a pay-per-view attraction who has already moved up and conquered multiple divisions. In their eyes, Shakur is the challenger at 147.
Stevenson deserves credit for chasing major names, but there is a clear difference between asking for elite fights and accepting them on open terms. Fans often respect the older model of moving up, taking the challenge, and dealing with the natural disadvantages without scale protections.
Haney vs. Stevenson is still a strong attraction. But if weight clauses become the story again, talks could stall before punches are ever thrown.
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