Keyshawn Davis rejects Devin Haney fight, WBO purse bid
Jul 31, 2026 • 5:08 PM ET
Top RankLAS VEGAS – Keyshawn Davis Friday rejected the Top Rank purse-bid offer of $2.1375 million to fight WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney.
Davis, 15-0 (10 KOs), the unbeaten 2021 Olympic silver medalist and former WBO lightweight champion, was slotted to receive 25% of Top Rank’s winning $8 million-plus winning big Thursday, with three-division champion Haney, 33-0 (15 KOs), in line to make a cut of $6.4125 million.
Davis’ move throws chaos into the situation, and may lead Haney to pursue a fight with Davis’ close friend, four-division champion Shakur Stevenson.
An official familiar with Davis’ position said the purse split left Davis with potential earnings that were "embarrassingly low,” setting up the rejection.
Another individual familiar with the issue said before Davis finalized his decision that while the earnings were low, “If he believes in himself, this jumps [Davis] a level that will have great upside moving forward. I would take the fight and bet on yourself.”
Davis was sitting as the WBO’s No. 1 welterweight contender.
His next move is uncertain.
After Top Rank won the purse bid Thursday, Chairman Bob Arum said he was hopeful Davis would meet Las Vegas’ Haney, who has also worn lightweight and 140lbs belts.
“Keyshawn has told us from the beginning that he wants this fight. We delivered it for him. The fight’s ready to happen in October. We’re looking forward to putting on a great fight.”
Asked if he was concerned Davis is irked by the $2 million-plus purse for the bout due to the WBO stipulated 25% cut for the title challenger, Arum said the split is rough, but, “It is what it is.”
Now, Davis has responded.
And that, too, is what it is.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
