Bill Haney Strikes Back: Shakur Stevenson Crowned “King” of Publicity Stunts Amid Garcia-Haney Drama
The boxing world is no stranger to drama, especially in the lead-up to highly anticipated fights. As the showdown between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney approaches, tensions are running high, with fans and pundits alike speculating about the fighters’ mental and emotional states. However, amidst the chaos, it’s not Garcia who’s stealing the spotlight as the king of publicity stunts, but rather another contender—Shakur Stevenson.
Stevenson’s recent antics have thrust him into the center of the Garcia-Haney narrative, as he seized the opportunity to offer himself as a replacement for Garcia in the upcoming bout. Yet, according to Bill Haney, the patriarch of the Haney camp, Stevenson’s actions are nothing more than empty theatrics aimed at garnering attention.
In a scathing indictment of Stevenson’s motives, Bill Haney labeled the rising star as the “King” of publicity stunts, suggesting that his willingness to insert himself into the Garcia-Haney saga was merely a ploy for self-promotion. Speaking in an interview following yesterday’s face-off between Garcia and Haney, Haney Sr. minced no words as he dissected Stevenson’s behavior.
“Stevenson does a lot on social media—you know what I mean,” remarked Haney, alluding to Stevenson’s penchant for courting controversy online. Despite Stevenson’s previous talks with the Haney camp about a potential matchup, Haney Sr. dismissed his recent offer as little more than a hollow gesture designed to generate buzz.
Bill said, “Just like he turned down the fight on social media. He called for the fight on social media. He does a lot on social media—you know what I mean.”
Bill then added, “I told you before that there’s publicity stunts, and then there’s publicity stunters. He’s [a] King stunter because everything that he does is on social media.”
He said, “It’s not that I would never entertain a fight between him and Devin; that’s completely false, completely untrue.”
Devin Haney’s father/trainer Bill Haney firing back at Shakur Stevenson today after he claimed he could jump in and replace Ryan Garcia on April 20th: “He ain’t fought nobody.”
[🎥 @BillHaney77] pic.twitter.com/TUltJerSPb
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) March 19, 2024
“It’s not that I would never entertain a fight between him and Devin; that’s completely false, completely untrue,” asserted Haney, addressing Stevenson’s proposal to step in for Garcia. However, Haney Sr. made it abundantly clear that he views Stevenson’s word with skepticism, questioning the sincerity of his intentions.
As Haney Sr. delivered his scathing assessment of Stevenson’s credibility, he also cast doubt on the caliber of Stevenson’s opponents, suggesting that the undefeated fighter has yet to face anyone of real consequence. With Garcia and Haney both focused on their impending clash, Stevenson’s attempted intrusion into the narrative has been met with skepticism and dismissal from the Haney camp.
“It’s not that I would never entertain a fight between him and Devin; that’s completely false, completely untrue,” asserted Haney Sr., emphasizing the need for substance behind Stevenson’s boasts.
Haney Sr.’s scathing critique of Stevenson’s credibility underscores the high stakes involved in the world of professional boxing. With Garcia and Haney poised to settle their differences in the ring, Stevenson’s attempts to insert himself into the conversation have been met with skepticism and derision.
