One of the biggest all-American fights in boxing may soon become a reality. The World Boxing Organization (WBO) officially ordered welterweight champion Devin Haney to make the first defense of his title against mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis. Setting the stage for a potential blockbuster showdown between two of the sport’s most talented young stars.
The two sides now have 20 days to negotiate an agreement before the WBO can order a purse bid. The sanctioning body announced Tuesday that Haney and Davis have until the expiration of the negotiation period to reach terms.
If no agreement is reached, the WBO will schedule a purse bid hearing. Under WBO rules, Haney, as the defending champion, would receive 75 percent of the winning bid, while Davis would earn the remaining 25 percent.
Keyshawn Davis Earns Mandatory Position
Davis (15-0, 10 KOs) has quickly climbed back into world title contention after moving up in weight. The 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medalist captured the WBO lightweight championship in February 2025 by stopping Denys Berinchyk in four rounds.
However, his reign was short-lived. Davis was stripped of the title after failing to make weight ahead of a scheduled defense against Edwin De Los Santos later that year.
Rather than attempting to reclaim the lightweight championship, Davis moved to junior welterweight in 2026 and continued his unbeaten run. He stopped Jamaine Ortiz in the 12th round in January before earning a unanimous decision over Nahir Albright in May.
Because of his status as a former WBO world champion, Davis received the organization’s No. 1 ranking after moving into the welterweight division, positioning himself for an immediate mandatory title opportunity.
Haney Faces Major Decision
Haney enters the negotiations as one of boxing’s most called out fighter. Everyone says that they want a piece of Haney. The undefeated champion has not fought since capturing the WBO welterweight title and has recently been linked to a potential promotional agreement with Dana White’s rapidly expanding Zuffa Boxing.
A showdown with Davis would immediately become one of the most significant fights available in the 147-pound division and could headline a major pay-per-view event.
Elite Talent Meets Rising Star
Both fighters bring elite pedigrees into the proposed matchup. Haney remains one of boxing’s most technically gifted champions and has already captured world titles across multiple weight classes.
Meanwhile, Davis has steadily developed into one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars thanks to his explosive combination of speed, athleticism, and finishing ability.
If negotiations prove successful. The bout would pit one of boxing’s established champions against one of its brightest emerging contenders in a fight with major implications for the future of the welterweight division.
Now the boxing world waits to see whether the two camps can reach an agreement or whether the WBO will be forced to send the fight to purse bids.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
