Davis has spent weeks targeting Haney as his preferred opponent, and his latest comments pushed that campaign further by portraying Haney’s future decisions as a response to his own presence.
“You ain’t standing on your word, and I’m making you run out of your own weight class,” Davis said during an appearance on Come and Talk 2 Me. “What are we talking about here?”
The remark reflects a deliberate attempt to apply pressure rather than a single callout. Davis has repeatedly attached himself to Haney’s position at welterweight, attempting to make himself part of the division’s immediate title conversation despite not yet fighting at 147 pounds.
Pressure campaign continues
Davis’ pursuit of Haney comes during a period of transition in his own career. After missing weight in 2025, he moved up from lightweight and has since repositioned himself across higher weight classes. With fourteen professional fights and a stoppage win over Jamaine Ortiz in his most recent appearance, Davis has built visibility but has not yet established himself within the welterweight contender structure.
Haney, meanwhile, holds championship positioning and retains flexibility in choosing his next opponent. Fighters in that position are not obligated to face challengers who have not secured mandatory status or divisional footing.
Davis’ status as a Ring ambassador complicates the situation. His connection to Turki Alalshikh gives him a level of backing most young fighters don’t have, which makes his pursuit of Haney harder to dismiss.
For now, Davis is attempting to use public pressure to accelerate his entry into the welterweight top tier. Whether that approach produces the fight he wants will depend on Haney’s plans and the willingness of boxing’s power brokers to match them in the ring.
The comments Keyshawn made on Come and Talk 2 Me today are a direct shot at the traditional boxing structure about not wanting to pay sanctioning fees for titles. Calling himself a “superstar” who doesn’t need belts is a classic power move, but it’s risky. He’s essentially saying he wants the glory and the big-name opponents like Haney, but he has no interest in playing by the rules of the sanctioning bodies.
Skipping an entire division (147) to demand a title shot is rare. Usually, you at least have to beat a ranked contender in that class to get the WBO to look your way. Refusing to pay fees is a move we’ve seen from established legends, but for a young fighter with 14 fights, it’s a massive middle finger to the organizations. If he actually wins and refuses to pay, the WBO would likely strip him immediately, making the belt vacant again.
Keyshawn is betting that his connection to Turki Alalshikh and his growing profile make him “uncancelable.” He’s banking on the idea that Haney needs him for a “mega-fight” more than Keyshawn needs the physical strap.
It feels like he’s trying to usher in an era where the “event” matters more than the hardware. However, for a guy who just lost his lightweight title on the scale last year, talking about not needing belts might come across to fans as a way to avoid the discipline that comes with being a champion.
It’s definitely a polarizing approach. Do you think this “superstar” talk is going to make Haney more or less likely to take the fight? I don’t see it working.
Read the full article here
