Liam Paro Calls Haney and Shakur Stevenson Negotiations Embarrassing

Liam Paro has seen enough. The WBO welterweight champion says the drawn-out negotiations between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson have become an embarrassment for both fighters.

"These guys obviously don't really want to fight each other," Paro told Boxing News 24. "There's always some little problems that's not making it happen. In a way, it's a bit embarrassing."

The Haney and Stevenson camps have been going back and forth for weeks over weight and financial terms. Per The Ring's Mike Coppinger, agreements around weight remain the central sticking point. Haney has said Stevenson tried to sneak in a rehydration clause after both sides agreed to a 145-pound catchweight. Stevenson's camp argues Haney made 144 pounds for a catchweight against Jose Ramirez last year and could do it again.

The dispute has dragged both fighters' reputations through the mud. A fight that was once considered close to done now appears to be falling apart, per Bad Left Hook. Neither side has made a public concession.

Paro, who has his own designs on a Haney fight at welterweight, said Stevenson should commit to fighting at the full 147-pound limit before calling himself a true welterweight champion. He declined to give specific numbers on his own stalled unification talks with Haney.

What started as the most anticipated American boxing matchup of the year has turned into a negotiation stalemate that benefits nobody.