WBO favorable to suggestion of Devin Haney-Liam Paro unification
Aug 6, 2026 • 2:39 AM ET
Cris Esqueda / Matchroom BoxingDevin Haney should have no problem finding an opponent following last week’s rejection by former lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis.
WBO President Gustavo Olivieri told BoxingScene Wednesday that his executive committee would look favorably upon potential requests by IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro and WBO 140lbs champion Shakur Stevenson to fight WBO welterweight champion Haney, 33-0 (15 KOs), next.
Australia’s Paro, 28-1 (16 KOs), is reportedly interested in a unification bout versus Haney following Paro’s unanimous-decision victory over England’s Lewis Crocker on June 24.
BoxingScene has learned an official connected to Paro has made contact with the WBO about the potential request, and the sanctioning body is receptive to the idea, especially so considering the WBO and IBF will stage a joint convention in Florida this December.
As for unbeaten, four-division champion Stevenson, 25-0 (11 KOs), his previously reported interest in Haney would also be considered by the executive committee, but a recent post on Instagram by Stevenson seems to make that request unlikely.
“I won’t be entertaining the circus anymore… no more response from me ever again,” Stevenson posted.
After recently signing with Zuffa Boxing, Stevenson might be left to fight against Zuffa’s former WBA 140lbs champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
