LAS VEGAS — Three-division champion Devin Haney has signed a multi-fight agreement with DAZN, handing the platform another prime young talent on Friday and sharpening its growing rivalry with the new Zuffa Boxing promotion backed by Paramount+ and Turki Alalshikh. The move for the 27-year-old from Las Vegas, 33-0 (15 KOs), closes a week that began with Zuffa Boxing releasing four-division champion Shakur Stevenson, 25-0 (11 KOs), before he ever fought for the company.
“I’m at a point in my career where I want the biggest challenges and the fights the fans want to see,” Haney said. “I’m excited to partner with DAZN. This agreement removes any doubt or uncertainty about my ability to make the major fights in boxing. I’m in position to fight anyone, and I’m focused, motivated and ready for whoever is next.” BoxingScene reported that following collapsed talks with free-agent Stevenson, the WBO welterweight champion is now turning towards a unification bout against IBF champion Liam Paro of Australia.
The alliance also intensifies the competition between DAZN and Zuffa Boxing/Paramount+ over pending free agents David Benavidez and WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia. DAZN, which has already signed WBA welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez, can now offer Garcia a tantalising rematch with Haney following their 2024 no-contest, a bout marked by Garcia’s three knockdowns of Haney and three positive post-fight tests for the banned PED Ostarine, widely regarded as the most anticipated rematch the sport currently offers.
“Devin has proven that he belongs on boxing’s biggest stages,” said Britton Hardin, DAZN head of North America boxing. “He is an elite champion, a proven headliner and one of the most influential figures shaping the future of the sport. This partnership creates the opportunity to deliver the marquee matchups fans want while bringing the next defining phase of Devin’s career to DAZN’s global audience.” In its prepared statement, DAZN added: “The agreement brings another elite championship attraction to DAZN’s growing U.S. boxing business and further strengthens the platform’s position as the destination for boxing’s biggest fighters, promoters and most anticipated matchups.”
Haney previously won lightweight and 140lbs titles, including victory over three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, before defeating Brian Norman Jnr in November to claim the WBO welterweight belt. “Building Devin Haney Promotions into a global championship brand has been a long-term vision of ours, and this partnership marks an important milestone in that journey,” said his father-trainer-manager Bill Haney, who had signalled talks with DAZN officials on social media earlier this week. “We developed Devin from the ground up into an undisputed [lightweight] champion, a three-division world champion and one of boxing’s elite global attractions. Now, alongside DAZN, we can apply that same blueprint to growing the DHP roster, developing future champions and delivering elite events on the global stage.” The platform will also stage Benavidez’s three-belt cruiserweight unification against Michal Cieslak on 5 December in Phoenix.