Shakur Stevenson calls out the former three-division champ who many feel should be the reigning world lightweight champion:  "Yo champ, Vasiliy Lomachenko, let’s make the highest skill level fight happen. I want to give true boxing fans a spectacular night of boxing at the highest level." If it happens, it could be for the vacant WBC lightweight title, as world champ Devin Haney holds the other three major titles but has been moved to champion in recess by the WBC as Haney tests the waters at junior welterweight.

 

PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE

 

AUG. 2, 2023: World lightweight champion Devin Haney petitioned the WBC to allow him to move up five pounds and challenge to fight WBC junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis.  But Haney, who also holds the three other major lightweight titles, also wished to remain as WBC lightweight champion until after his fight with Prograis takes place, at which point he would decide in whether to remain at 135 or 140 pounds. The WBC Board of Governors voted on Tuedsay as follows: (1)  Haney's petition to challenge Prograis for the WBC 140-pound championship is granted; (2) Haney will be designated as the 135-pound champion-in-recess; (3) the WBC lightweight championship will be determined by a bout between the mandatory challenger in the lightweight division, Shakur Stevenson, against the highest available contender in that division. Currently, Vasiliy Lomachenko is the highest rated contender but just last weekend Isaac Cruz won a WBC eliminator, so those would be the two most likely opponents for Stevenson; (4)  after fighting Prograis, Haney must choose between remaining at 135 or 140 pounds on a timetable that the WBC would order; and (5) if Haney decides to return to the lightweight division, the WBC would order the fight between Haney and the new champion on a 50-50 basis under the provisions that the WBC Rules & Regulations may provide for those situations.