In a surprising turn of events, Keyshawn Davis withdrew his option to challenge for Devin Haney’s WBO welterweight world title, despite pleading for the opportunity not long ago. Now, Shakur Stevenson has offered his thoughts on Davis’ decision to pull out.
Davis claimed the WBO lightweight world title when he knocked out Denys Berinchyk last February, but he lost the belt on the scales as his first defence – against Edwin De Los Santos – was cancelled in the summer.
Instead, ‘The Businessman’ moved up to super-lightweight and debuted with an impressive stoppage of Jamaine Ortiz back in January, before a comfortable decision victory in a rematch with Nahir Albright in May.
Yet, after just two outings at 140lbs, Davis once again revealed his intentions to move up in weight, targeting a shot at Haney’s WBO welterweight crown and being mandated to take on the Californian in his first contest at 147lbs.
Following the end of their 30-day negotiation period, the bout went to purse bids and Top Rank won the rights to stage the event, with Davis set to net over $2 million for his world title bid.
However, shortly after the live-streamed purse bids, the WBO received an email confirming Davis’ withdrawal from the fight, reportedly due to the belief that he was being underpaid.
Although, speaking on the Cigar Talk YouTube channel, four-division world champion and good friend of Davis’, Stevenson, outlined why he believes the Norfolk-born champion’s move is unlikely to purely be down to money.
“At the end of the day, his decision is his decision. I believe that, if he has made that decision, there must be a lot more to it.
“Nah, I am not buying that [it was solely about the money]. I think that there has got to be more to the story. I have dealt with these people before, they know how to make things look a certain way, I have been in his shoes before.”
Haney is understood to be hoping to proceed with the touted October 3 fight date, with a potential unification against IBF welterweight world champion, Liam Paro, now appearing to be a possible option.
