“We’re ready, willing, and able to defend our 147-pound welterweight title against anybody at any given time,” Bill said to the Million Dollaz Worth of Game Youtube site about a fight between Devin and Shakur.
The conversation turned to whether Shakur could move up from lightweight for a showdown with Devin. Bill rejected the idea of meeting halfway at 144 pounds if the fight were going to represent Devin’s position at welterweight.
“If it’s at a catchweight 144, then it wouldn’t be for the belt,” Bill said. “We’re not going down no more pounds.”
Bill also argued that a fight at 147 would carry more historical value for both fighters, especially if Shakur moved up and won another title.
“I think it’s a great fight at 147 pounds when they ready to go,” said Bill.
The weight issue has become one of the biggest talking points surrounding a potential Haney-Stevenson fight after Shakur recently denied reports that serious negotiations had taken place between the two sides.
Bill still praised Stevenson during the interview and described him as one of boxing’s elite talents.
“Shakur’s a bad [fighter] at 144, and he’s a bad [fighter] at 147 for anybody,” Bill said. “Shakur is a bad [fighter], and he will cook 99.9% of everybody else.”
Haney’s side appears focused on staying at welterweight after Devin’s recent move up in weight, while Stevenson continues campaigning at lightweight and junior welterweight.
Bill also suggested that Devin has already outgrown the lower divisions physically after years of difficult weight cuts.
The fight could become easier to make if both fighters eventually land under the same promotional banner, with recent speculation linking both Haney and Stevenson to Zuffa Boxing.
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