Shakur Stevenson has declared that he rates his friend and sparring partner Keyshawn Davis higher than current WBO champion Devin Haney. This public assessment adds pressure on Haney, who must decide between fighting his mandatory challenger Davis or taking a fight with Stevenson himself.
With Haney’s team weighing its options, Stevenson made his view on the division’s hierarchy clear. He places Davis, his longtime friend, at the very top of the sport, even above himself in some contexts. The two share an intense training relationship that Stevenson believes forges the best fighters in boxing. “He’s my Chico. Like I be sparring with him where it’s high level. Like I feel like me and him is like the best fighters in the sport of boxing,” Stevenson said. He then directly contrasted Davis’s ability with Haney’s. “I don’t really believe there’s any better fighters in the sport right now than me and Keyshawn. I go in the ring with these dudes that’s not as good as him because I don’t believe Devin is as good as him.”
Stevenson’s comments are not a simple dismissal of Haney. They are a firm endorsement of Davis, who holds the mandatory challenger position for Haney’s WBO title. Stevenson also addressed suggestions that he is attempting to sideline Davis for his own title shot. He clarified that Haney’s camp was discussing a fight with Keyshawn long before his name was involved and that he will fully support his friend if that fight materializes. “If Key get the fight, I’m good with it, and I’m happy for my bro, and I’m going be right there alongside of him and pushing him to get to the next level. Same as he did for me my last fight.”
This leaves Devin Haney with three distinct paths. He can fulfill his mandatory obligation and face Keyshawn Davis, the fighter a top peer just labeled as the division’s best. He could instead pursue the marquee fight against Shakur Stevenson, a bout many fans have been anticipating. A third option is to wait for the outcome of the Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn fight and challenge the winner. Stevenson has made his position known. The decision now rests entirely with Haney and his team.
