“I just told u. One Davis after another.”
Haney’s comments come at a time when the situation around him has changed considerably.
The Mandatory Hurdle: Keyshawn Davis First
The first “Davis” is expected to be Haney’s WBO mandatory challenger Keyshawn. The WBO ordered this week on June 30th that Haney begin negotiations for a mandatory welterweight title defense, leaving the champion with little room to pursue other options without risking his belt.
Just a few weeks ago, much of the discussion centered on a potential showdown with Shakur Stevenson after Haney publicly agreed to fight him at a 144-pound catchweight. However, Haney’s father, Bill Haney, has since claimed Stevenson went quiet after the offer was accepted, and there has been little movement toward making that fight.
The long-discussed rematch with Ryan Garcia also appears to have moved to the back burner. Garcia is now targeting a September 12 clash with Conor Benn, effectively putting any return bout with Haney on hold while both fighters pursue different paths.
That leaves Haney’s immediate focus on Keyshawn before turning his attention to another Davis—Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
The Big Money Target: Tank Davis
A showdown with Tank has long been regarded as one of the biggest money fights available in American boxing. While that matchup would almost certainly require negotiations after Haney fulfills his mandatory obligations, the champion’s latest comments suggest it remains firmly on his radar.
Haney has now publicly committed to that sequence, putting Keyshawn Davis first and Tank Davis second. Rather than continuing to chase multiple names at once, he appears to have settled on a clear roadmap: satisfy the WBO mandatory against Keyshawn Davis first, then pursue the lucrative showdown with Tank Davis afterward.
Haney’s roadmap is clear: Keyshawn Davis first to satisfy the WBO mandatory, followed by a push for a lucrative showdown with Tank Davis.
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