If Davis is serious about wanting the fight now, it would mark a sharp change in direction. He has shown no real interest in facing Cruz as a professional. Cruz, meanwhile, has pursued the fight publicly, repeatedly referring to Davis as “my son,” a line meant to underline the imbalance he believes still exists between them.
Taking the fight would represent a real gamble for Davis, especially with his attention drifting toward welterweight. He has spoken openly about moving up to 147 to challenge Devin Haney for the WBO title. For that path to remain open, Davis must first defeat Jamaine Ortiz on January 31 at Madison Square Garden.
Even then, the finances would likely depend on Riyadh Season backing the idea. A Davis win over Haney would complicate plans for a second fight between Haney and Ryan Garcia, a rematch whose value drops sharply if Haney loses.
“Let’s just say Andy Cruz knocks Muratalla out. Okay, boom, now we can fight,” Davis told The Ring Magazine. “You just knocked Muratalla out. Forget 147. Let’s see how we can make that fight happen.”
Skepticism is warranted. Davis has everything to lose against Cruz and nothing in his past meetings suggests the outcome would change. He has lost every time they fought, and the margins have widened rather than narrowed.
None of it matters if Davis fails to get past Ortiz. Many fans see that fight as a toss up. Ortiz looks quicker, throws cleaner combinations, and has faced a stronger level of opposition. He has also stayed busier. Top Rank’s careful handling of Davis against lesser opposition may finally catch up with him.
“Right now there’s a lot going on with me and Devin Haney. That’s a huge fight for me,” Davis said. “Why not go to 147 and fight him?”
He also floated other options, including a bout with newly crowned champion Dalton Smith in the UK. But all of it depends on January 31. Lose there, and the Cruz talk becomes irrelevant. Win, and Davis still has to decide whether he actually wants to face the one fighter who has always had his number.
Video: Andy Cruz vs. Keyshawn Davis, Tokyo 2020 Olympic lightweight final
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