By saying he was available, Haney shifted the conversation away from London and toward the elite talent standing in front of Shakur.

Money is the motivator here. Stepping into the ring with Shakur or Benn would likely dwarf the prize money Haney received for his wins over Brian Norman Jr. and Jose Ramirez. He knew his worth and made sure others remembered it too. He wanted to be a part of it before Ben and Stevenson started negotiating.

By coming out publicly, Devin put pressure on Shakur to either acknowledge the challenge or demonstrate why a trip against Ben makes more sense. It was a strategic play that put Haney’s name front and center for the next big event.

Fighting either of those two men would likely draw more attention than Haney taking on welterweight champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero or Lewis Crocker.

Haney’s social media post today was strategic. He didn’t ruin Ben’s fight or try to stop it. All he did was put his name in the spotlight for a moment and let them know he was a viable option. Now it’s Shakur’s turn to make a choice. If he travels to London, he cannot say there are no other options at home. Haney was sure of it.

The key for Haney to get a fight with either Stevenson or Benn will be whether he’s willing to offer a bigger payday to either.