Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson’s rivalry could be this generation’s Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao, insists Alex McCarthy on The Hook

• Devin Haney claimed a victory against Regis Prograis on Sunday night
• He claimed the WBC light-welterweight title in his first fight at 140 pounds
• Jake Paul should NOT fight Conor McGregor if he’s serious about being world champion – The Hook 

Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson’s rivalry makes a fight between the pair one of the most mouthwatering prospects in boxing. 

But while many fans would love to see the pair go toe-to-toe in the ring, Mail Sport’s Alex McCarthy believes that it may take some time for this bout to be made, claiming that a fight between the pair could be ‘this generation’s Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Paquiao.’ 

Haney, 25, dominated Regis Prograis at the weekend, to secure the WBC light-welterweight title, beating his opponent via a unanimous points victory. 

It came after he vacated his lightweight WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO belts in November. But his decision to move up a weight class to 140lbs was recently scrutinised by his long-standing rival , who claimed that he had ‘ducked’ a fight between the pair after talks had broken down. 

Fans had questioned whether Haney would drop back down to face Stevenson, who recently won the WBC lightweight championship belts after a unanimous decision victory against Edwin De Los Santos in November. 

Devin Haney defeated Regis Prograis to claim the WBC super Lightweight title at the weekend

Questions have risen over when he will fight his long-standing rival Shakur Stevenson after Haney went up a weight division

Mail Sport’s Alex McCarthy has claimed that the pair could become this generation’s Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao

While it is unclear who the pair will fight next, Mail Sport’s Alex McCarthy believed that Haney vs Stevenson could end up becoming a situation like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. 

‘I would like to see the Shakur Stevenson fight next,’ Daly said, in hopes that the pair could meet next. 

But McCarthy responded: ‘You won’t get that next. You just won’t. I know there’s a lot of us who would love to see the Stevenson fight for the record. 

‘I think it’s him or Tank [Javonta Davis] are the biggest fights you can make for Haney just because of the built in bad blood and the history. Those are the two fights that would draw the most money. There are options, but I do think Stevenson and Tank.

McCarthy added: ‘I don’t see Stevenson being one and done at 140 and then moving up again to fight. Haney would have to come down.

‘There’s just a lot of moving parts for that to happen soon is my issue. It could end up being a Mayweather Pacquiao situation where it seems obvious. Every boxing fan is traumatized. It seems obvious.’

After approximately six years of uncertainty, with many boxing fans left in limbo over whehter Mayweather and Pacquiao would meet in the ring, the long-awaited showdown between the two biggest stars in the sport finally took place in 2015. 

It came after negotiations between the pound-for-pound rivals had fallen apart on several occasions amid rows over purse splits and blood testing. 

And while it took a while for promoters to finally make that fight, McCarthy argued that there may be a delay before Stevenson and Haney eventually meet in the ring. 

‘It just takes so many years to get there,’ he said during the podcast. ‘And then, you know, they’ll think it’s the right thing because they’re not making the money. But, you know, will we get the fight when we need it? The only thing on our side against that is that both men are in their 20s.’

Daly concurred noting how both fighter’s age bodes in their favour.  

‘Yeah, they’re both in their 20s, but what was it six years it took for Mayweather and Pacquiao,’ she added. ‘So like, okay, yeah, you’re in your 20s now, but these 25 you add that you add six years onto that and you’re not in your 20s anymore. 

Stevenson recently defeated Edwin De Los Santos via a unanimous decision to claim the WBC lightweight title

Stevenson had previously suggested Haney (pictured) had ‘ducked’ a fight against him after he moved up a class to 140lbs

‘So I would hate to see that fight take place when they’re past their best or they’re coming to the twilight end of their career. 

‘Or we’ve seen it happen so many times where there’s big fights we want to happen and we don’t get them when both athletes are in their peak and I think this would be another case study of when that would be a shame, a real disappointment for boxing fans if we don’t get this when they’re in their primes.’

Speaking on the possibility of Haney facing Conor Benn, McCarthy claimed that a potential fight between the pair may be unlikely. 

McCarthy said: ‘Connor Ben will fight in February no matter what. So they’re saying maybe they look at Haney instead.

‘I think that’s very unlikely considering the fact the American has kind of made it clear he intends to tackle the well-to-weight division in the future, but he’s unlikely to move straight there after only one fight at super lightweight. But yeah, I think there’s a lot of options.’ 

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