Floyd Schofield Backs Devin Haney Over Shakur Stevenson After Sparring Both

Floyd Schofield has sparred both Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson, and the newly-minted WBA lightweight champion isn't sitting on the fence. The unbeaten 19-0 (13 KO) prospect is leaning toward Haney if the pair meet in a 145lb catchweight bout targeted for November 28 in Atlanta. That date, if it lands, would close out 2026 as one of boxing's marquee nights.

The fight is real and moving fast. WBO welterweight champion Haney (33-0, 15 KO) and WBO super-lightweight titleholder Stevenson agreed publicly last week to the catchweight terms, with Haney's belt reportedly on the line and no rehydration clause in the contract — a sticking point Stevenson had pushed for in their previous round of talks.

Schofield, speaking with Sean Zittel, framed it as a technical chess match where both men bring different strengths. But he came down on Haney's side, pointing to the reach, the size and the boxing IQ as the separators. For a fight everyone expects to be tight and cerebral, those edges matter.

The Power Nobody Expected

The detail Schofield leaned on hardest was power — or rather, a glimpse of it. He noted that Haney, never known as a banger, actually put Brian Norman Jr. on the canvas in their last outing. That's notable given Norman (29-1, 23 KO) is a legitimate welterweight threat ranked #2 in the division and carrying a 23-knockout resume. Haney's 15 KOs from 33 fights tell you finishing isn't his calling card, which made the knockdown stand out.

Schofield has earned the right to an opinion the hard way. He took the WBA 135lb strap on Saturday with a win over Lucas Bahdi, who walked in 20-0 (15 KO) and left with his first professional loss. That followed a first-round stoppage of Tevin Farmer, so Schofield's own form is sharp enough to make his read worth hearing.

Whether Haney-Stevenson gets over the finish line in negotiations is the only question left. Two undefeated champions, a catchweight that favors neither cleanly, and a November window with everything to play for. If it happens, Schofield's prediction gets tested in the only place it counts.