Haney vs Stevenson Purse Dispute Threatens November 28 Superfight

Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson finally agreed on a catchweight of 145 pounds. Now they might tear the whole thing apart over money.

Per ESPN's Mike Coppinger, the fight is "facing obstacles" and has reached "a critical stage" as both camps argue over how to split the revenue. The targeted date is November 28 in Atlanta, leaving just over six weeks to sort it out.

Turki Alalshikh is backing the financial side of the event, which should guarantee a sizable overall purse. But a guaranteed pot and an agreed-upon split are two very different things.

Neither camp has disclosed specific numbers or percentages. The sticking point is perceived market value. Haney's side believes the former undisputed lightweight champion has proven drawing power as a headliner and brings more to the table commercially. Stevenson, while supremely talented, has not yet carried a pay-per-view or generated the same ticket sales.

An even split would likely be a non-starter for Haney's camp. If Stevenson's team pushes too hard on the percentage, the fight falls apart with both men pointing fingers.

Haney has leverage. He is a headline attraction with multiple options available to him. Stevenson needs this fight more than Haney does, at least from a commercial standpoint. A signature win over Haney at 145 would change that calculus overnight, but Stevenson has to get to the ring first.

The clock is ticking. Six weeks is tight for a fight of this magnitude, and the longer the purse negotiations drag out, the harder it becomes to build a proper promotional campaign.

This is the fight boxing fans have demanded for years. Whether the fighters and their teams can get out of their own way long enough to make it happen remains the only question that matters.