Boxing
Enemy at any weight: Fighters are raring for a shot at Shakur Stevenson
Romero vs. Lopez: DAZN PPV & Prime video - Aug 22
During the wee hours of Tuesday morning, Shakur Stevenson took to his X account and proclaimed himself as: “#HIM,” saying he’s “GOT THE MOST HATERS IN THE GAME.” But by the end of the day, the WBO super lightweight titleholder seemed to be growing tired of all the frenzied exchanges he’s been having with other fighters in recent weeks.
Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) owning a pristine record as a four-division world champion and ascender on boxing’s pound-for-pound list has him in the crosshairs of several fighters who all want their shot. The fact that the Newark, New Jersey native is active on social media only seems to make him that much more of a heated target.
Here, DAZN News looks at a few fighters who have engaged in back-and-forth verbal sparring with Stevenson in what has been a hot summer for the man vying to be the face of the sweet science.
Devin Haney
Queensberry/Leigh Dawney
The whole point of contention that’s keeping these stars from sharing a ring is an agreed upon weight. Devin Haney, the reigning WBO welterweight world champion, wants Stevenson to come up to 147 pounds. Stevenson, a champ at 140 pounds, wants a catchweight, even pinning a post atop his X account imploring Haney to fight at 144 pounds:
“LETS FIGHT LETS FIGHT LETS FIGHT #144.”
The typed-out tirades have increased in the past few days, highlighted by Stevenson telling Haney and his father, Bill Haney, that Zuffa Boxing’s Dana White and Nick Khan are waiting, urging ‘The Dream’ to set the fight at 144 pounds.
Just this past Monday, Bill Haney took to his X account and said “Money on your head Champ.” It’s heating up.
O’Shaquie Foster
Matchroom Boxing
While simultaneously exchanging words with the Haneys, Stevenson has also caught heat from WBC super featherweight world champion O’Shaquie Foster. Before and after defeating Stevenson’s protégé Ray Ford in late May, Foster immediately expressed the desire to challenge Stevenson to his face.
The jabbing escalated over the weekend when Stevenson, upon watching William Zepeda soundly defeat Lamont Roach Jr., took to his X account and stated: “Yo champ I see why u didn’t want that belt @ 135 @OshaquieFoster it makes sense now.” To that insinuation, Foster stormed back, essentially telling Stevenson to quit talking and start fighting.
On Monday, Foster alleged that Stevenson is “scared” to face him to which the latter dismissed the Texas native by warning with a laugh, “lil 130 pounder mind ya 130 pound business.”
Considering their past as former sparring partners, a Stevenson vs. Foster fight would be ultra personal.
Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela
(Rey Del Rio/Premier Boxing Champions)
Stevenson let it be known that he respects Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela’s call out of him.
But Stevenson made sure to let the former super lightweight world champion know that he would take the challenge more seriously had Valenzuela fared better against Gary Antuanne Russell.
Valenzuela lost that March 2025 fight via unanimous decision as Russell's sweet science skills overwhelmed him.
Gary Antuanne Russell
(Steve Marcus/Getty Images)
Just a few weeks ago, Gary Antuanne Russell’s older brother and former champion, Gary Russell, told FightHype that Shakur Stevenson declined a fight with his fellow 140-pound champion.
However, back in June, Stevenson did post on X that Antuanne Russell is “a fighter who will bring the best out of me!!” So, maybe there's a chance these two have their chess match.
What is the biggest fight for Shakur Stevenson?
Analysis: DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla
The biggest fight for Shakur Stevenson is a fighter not named on this list, but a superstar who has traded words with him in the past — none other than Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
That would be the biggest fight in boxing, period.
However, Davis has been out of boxing since March 2025 and there seems to be more traction toward Stevenson vs. Haney. Both fights would help declare this generation’s best as Davis, 31, Stevenson, 29, and Haney, 27, are all close in age and rose up through the ranks together.
With Stevenson’s recent signing to Zuffa Boxing, the promotional outfit delivering either bout would mark a splash that ripples in effects for the boxing world well after fight night.
Romero vs. Lopez - Watch on DAZN PPV & Prime Video
In a potential fight of the year contender Rolly Romero puts his WBA welterweight title up against Teofimo Lopez on Saturday, August 22, live on DAZN.
Buy as a one-off PPV, via DAZN on Prime Video, or included along with Moses vs. Hrgovic (Aug 29) and Canelo vs. Mbilli (Oct 31) PPVs with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
