WBO Officially Orders Devin Haney To Begin Mandatory Title Negotiations With Keyshawn Davis

“The WBO Championship Committee has officially ordered the commencement of negotiations for the WBO Welterweight Mandatory Championship Title Defense between World Champion Devin Haney and the WBO’s #1 world-rated contender & mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis.

“Pursuant to the Committee’s ruling and the WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests, the parties are granted twenty (20) days to achieve an agreement. Failing such agreement, purse bid proceedings could also be requested, with the purse split to be distributed 75% to the Champion and 25% to the Challenger, in accordance with the WBO Rules,” said Olivieri on X.

The official negotiation order is predicted to be published later today, formally starting the 20-day negotiating period.

If Haney and Keyshawn cannot reach an agreement inside that window, either side can request a handbag bid. Under WBO regulations, Haney would receive 75 percent of the winning bid as champion, while Davis would receive the remaining 25 percent because the mandatory challenger.

The order ends weeks of uncertainty surrounding Haney’s first defense after winning the WBO welterweight title. There had been discussion a few potential catchweight fight with Shakur Stevenson, however the mandatory obligation now gives Keyshawn first claim to the belt.

Davis has climbed to the #1 position despite having limited experience at welterweight, a degree that has generated debate amongst boxing fans. The unbeaten former Olympic silver medalist has quickly grow to be considered one of the division’s highest-profile contenders and now sits one agreement away from his first world title shot at 147 kilos.

Attention now shifts as to whether Haney and Keyshawn can strike a deal over the subsequent 20 days or if the matchup will head to a handbag bid.