Social media declarations certainly don’t mean a deal is done, but both fighters showed their willingness to square off by agreeing to the rules of engagement.

Stevenson, The Ring and WBO 140-pound champion, got Haney to abide by stating, “144 [pounds] is fair for two champions in two separate weight classes. Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez made one of the biggest fights ever happen at a catch weight. If y’all seriously wanted the fight, it would be easy to make. Y’all fought Jose Ramirez at that weight two fights ago.”

Haney, the WBO 147-pound champ, replied, “If I come to 144, we have a fight?” Stevenson said, “Yes.”

Haney shared a different stance Monday by telling Stevenson, “Whenever you decide to come to ‘my weight class’ let’s do it! I’ll fight your brother Keyshawn Davis for now.”

Davis, Haney’s WBO mandatory challenger and Stevenson’s close friend, also chimed in after Haney revealed he was ready for a 144-pound fight and quipped, “[Haney would] rather lose more weight than get in the ring with The Businessman. I’m your mandatory bro, stop trying to make other fights.”

Haney said, “Sit this one out too Key ... Me versus Shakur is the biggest [fight of the year]. Our fight would be big though.”

If a fight between Stevenson and Haney officially crosses the finish line, the all-American encounter would pit two of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the sport against each other.

Haney (33-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC) is No. 8 on The Ring’s pound-for-pound list. He became champion in a third division when he beat Brian Norman Jr. by unanimous decision in his welterweight debut November 22 on “The Ring IV: Night of the Champions” undercard at ANB Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) is ranked third pound-for-pound by The Ring. The four-division champion dominated Teofimo Lopez in his last fight, a unanimous points victory January 31 in the main of “The Ring 6” card at Madison Square Garden in New York.

For the smaller Stevenson – who has held titles at 126, 130, and 135 pounds – calling for catch-weight bouts lately against bigger fighters has been a chief sticking point. In recent months, Stevenson has also pressed for a 144-pound fight against WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia, Haney’s rival.

Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.