Bill Haney is done being quiet about who’s quiet.
In an interview with BoxingScene, Haney said he negotiated the long-awaited Devin Haney–Shakur Stevenson fight directly with James Prince — Shakur’s co-manager — alongside a representative of Turki Alalshikh, with talks reaching advanced stages. Devin even agreed to come down to 145 pounds. And then? Nothing. Haney said Shakur and Prince have gone “quieter than church-house mouses.”
That’s the “blocked” in the viral video’s title — and it’s the latest entry in a pattern we’ve been documenting all year in our Shakur–Haney ducking file. The money was on the table. The weight was agreed. The pen never moved.
Who is James Prince — and why does he matter in boxing?
James Prince — J. Prince — is a Houston hip-hop legend, the founder of Rap-A-Lot Records, the label behind the Geto Boys. But he’s not just a rap executive anymore. Prince is Shakur Stevenson’s co-manager, alongside Josh Dubin, and he’s been Shakur’s fixer behind the scenes. When Shakur clashed with Eddie Hearn over his payday earlier this year, Shakur himself credited J. Prince on The Breakfast Club for stepping in and helping resolve it.
So when Bill Haney says he negotiated with Prince directly, that’s not a middleman — that’s Shakur’s inner circle. And when that inner circle goes silent, it reads like a decision, not a delay.
The federal rumors: what’s real and what’s YouTube talk
Here’s where we do what the viral channels won’t — separate the record from the rumor.
On record: At a recent federal bond hearing for NBA Ben 10 — tied to the AllStar JR shooting case — prosecutors reportedly discussed J. Prince Jr.’s alleged involvement as part of why federal authorities got involved. Ben 10 was denied bond and remains in custody. That’s a courtroom proceeding, not a comment section.
Claimed, not confirmed: Wack 100 has publicly claimed a federal indictment of J. Prince is coming — while adding his own disclaimer that nothing is confirmed through any indictment, court filing, or DOJ announcement. Take it as a claim, not a fact.
Unverified internet talk: Several YouTube channels claim J. Prince Sr. demolished a residence over wiretap fears and that both Princes are in Belize. No official source, no court filing, no law enforcement statement backs those claims up. They’re viral, not verified.
History: This isn’t the first round of fed rumors around Prince. About two years ago, rumors claimed his office was raided by federal agents — Prince personally denied it, telling Baller Alert the rumor-starters “tell lies for a living.” He also beat dismissed assault charges back in 2008.
The bottom line: As of today, neither James Prince nor J. Prince Jr. has been charged with anything in connection with these rumors, per all publicly available reporting. Being discussed in connection with an investigation is not the same as being indicted. Everyone is presumed innocent unless proven otherwise.
The take
Strip away the fed talk and the story is the same one we’ve been telling: Shakur Stevenson had a career-defining fight negotiated to 145 pounds, and his team stopped answering the phone. Whether that’s J. Prince’s call, Shakur’s call, or both, the result is identical — another date with no date.
Devin Haney did his part. He came down in weight. He said yes. Fighters who stand on business sign contracts, and right now only one side of this negotiation is acting like it wants the fight.
The feds may or may not come for J. Prince. But the court of public opinion already rendered its verdict on the Haney fight: the ducking file stays open.
Video credit: via YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqp-u85AKCc
