Gervonta Davis’ trainer says he still wants to see Shakur Stevenson tested against higher-level opposition before fully buying into the hype

Calvin Ford believes a fight between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson would come down to skill rather than punching power. The veteran trainer also questioned whether Stevenson has faced the kind of opposition that reveals how he responds when pushed to his limits.

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Ford, the longtime coach of Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, shared his views while discussing the matchup and Stevenson’s standing among the sport’s top fighters.

“It’s hard to say,” Ford said to Fight Hub TV when asked who would have the advantage in a Haney-Stevenson fight. “Devin probably says no threat. It’s no threat. It’s not like you’re going against a puncher. So Devin might take a chance.

“Shakur is always better. But again, it’s nobody that he’s been in front of that really put him through that yet.

“He’s always been Shakur since he was a kid. But again, I haven’t seen anything that make me go, ‘Oh my God.'”

Haney and Shakur have been linked to each other repeatedly over the last year, with Haney recently agreeing to a proposed 144-pound catchweight in an effort to move negotiations forward.

The fight remains unconfirmed, however, and Haney is also facing pressure to satisfy a WBO mandatory defense against Keyshawn Davis. The WBO recently informed Ring Magazine that Devin must defend his welterweight title against Keyshawn next or risk relinquishing the belt.

If Haney chooses to keep the title and face Keyshawn, a showdown with Shakur would likely have to wait until later in the year.