Devin Haney isn’t short on options at welterweight, but one rising name has quickly moved onto his radar: Keyshawn Davis. The reigning WBO welterweight champion made his interest clear this week after Davis publicly floated the idea of jumping straight to 147 pounds following his next fight. Davis is set to make his junior welterweight debut against Jamaine Ortiz at The Ring 6 on January 31 in New York City, and a win could fast-track him into immediate title contention.
Earlier this month, Davis told Inside The Ring that if he handles business against Ortiz, there would be little reason to linger at 140 pounds. Haney, who recently captured the WBO welterweight title from Brian Norman Jr. in November at The Ring IV: Night of the Champions, took notice.
After tweeting that he was “looking at a few different options” for his first title defense, Haney responded directly to Davis’ comments online.
“He’s waiting to see what I do with Jamaine,” Davis said. Haney’s reply was simple and telling: “You on the list, we can get it on.”
Davis Seeks Reset After Turbulent 2024
Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) hasn’t competed since June, when a disastrous week derailed his momentum. He was stripped of his WBO lightweight title after missing weight by 4.3 pounds for a scheduled bout with Edwin De Los Santos, leading to the fight’s cancellation.
The situation worsened when Davis was involved in a backstage altercation with Nahir Albright, who had just defeated Davis’ older brother, Kelvin, on the same card. The sequence of events marked a stunning setback for the Olympic silver medalist.
Now, Davis gets a chance to reset against Ortiz, a proven contender whose only professional losses have come against elite opposition including Vasiliy Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez.
Haney’s Championship Pedigree
Haney’s rise through the divisions has been methodical and historic. He became undisputed champion at lightweight, captured a title at junior welterweight, and added welterweight gold last year establishing himself as a three-division world champion before turning 27.
A potential matchup with Davis would be anything but routine. Davis brings speed, athleticism, and amateur pedigree, while Haney offers championship experience, elite defense, and ring IQ.
Fast Track to Welterweight Gold?
Davis may opt to skip chasing a belt at 140 pounds altogether. If he performs at welterweight the way he did against Denys Berinchyk in his last outing, it may not take long before he’s once again fighting for gold this time at 147.
With Haney openly acknowledging Davis as a potential challenger, the welterweight division could soon have another high-profile clash in the making. First, Davis must clear Ortiz. If he does, a WBO title shot against Haney may be closer than anyone expected.
Jaime Munguia Rejects IBF World Title Offer Osleys Iglesias’ Search Continues
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
