Tim Bradley has assessed the nuances of a clash between Devin Haney and Keyshawn Davis, believing one man to be the clear favourite in their potential welterweight encounter.
Following his comprehensive performance against Brian Norman Jr last November, many would regard WBO champion Haney as the top dog at 147lbs.
‘The Dream’ was able to outpoint and dethrone Norman with minimal difficulty, scoring an early knockdown before becoming a three-division world champion.
Previous points victories over the likes of Vasyl Lomachenko and Regis Prograis, too, have only cemented Haney as one of the finest active fighters in the sport.
Davis, meanwhile, is yet to fully establish himself as a pound-for-pound star, despite having previously dethroned Denys Berinchyk – with a fourth-round stoppage, no less – to become the WBO lightweight champion in February 2025.
A ring return last January then saw ‘The Businessman’ defeat Jermaine Ortiz at 140lbs, scoring a 12th-round finish after dismantling his opponent with body shots.
But now, coming off a unanimous decision victory over Nahir Albright, who he faced in a rematch last week, Davis is expressing an interest in moving up to 147lbs and challenging Haney.
Based on their last respective performances, though, Bradley has said on his YouTube channel that he would make Davis a sizable underdog.
“I’m telling you right now: I don’t care to see the fight. I think it’s an ugly fight. But who would be the favourite?
“[Based on] their last performances, Devin Haney would be the favourite. Haney has more experience; Haney’s been fighting [professionally] since he was 17 years old. Fighting grown men out there in Mexico.
“He’s won [an undisputed championship and has] been in there with legends [like Lomachenko].”
Along with his experience, Bradley highlights the mentality of Haney as a key factor against Davis, who narrowly missed weight in his first encounter with the scales ahead of the Albright fight.
Far more drastic, however, was his failed attempt last June, when the American was stripped of his WBO title after weighing over 4lbs above the lightweight limit.
