Keyshawn Davis has withdrawn from an ordered WBO welterweight title fight against Devin Haney after rejecting a $2.1375 million purse share. His trainer claims the payout undervalued the mandatory challenger, leaving both fighters to pursue separate bouts in the division.
The scheduled bout went to a purse bid after negotiations failed to yield an agreement. Top Rank secured the rights with a winning bid of $8.55 million. Under World Boxing Organization rules governing mandatory title defenses, champion Devin Haney was awarded 75 percent of the total figure—amounting to $6.4125 million—while Davis was allocated the remaining 25 percent split of just over $2.1 million.
Dorsett Barnwell, the trainer for Davis, openly criticized the financial terms during an interview with MillCity Boxing. Barnwell contrasted the offered purse with the reported sum offered to Brian Norman Jr. before a previously planned Haney fight collapsed. He said: “Brian Norman received 3.5 to fight Devin Haney, but y’all telling me that Brian Norman should get more money than Keyshawn Davis?”
Barnwell argued that Davis represents a larger attraction and deserved compensation reflecting his status. However, critics point out that Norman held the WBO welterweight championship during his talks, providing him with far greater leverage than a mandatory challenger receives under sanctioning body rules.
Davis also possessed limited bargaining leverage due to recent struggles on the scales.
He missed weight in two consecutive fights, which included losing his WBO lightweight belt on the scales prior to a canceled bout against Edwin De Los Santos. Additionally, Davis has yet to defeat a marquee opponent since stepping up to the 147-pound division.
Nevertheless, Barnwell insisted that Davis understood his market value and was right to refuse a purse that fell below his expectations. “These are prize fighters. These men need to get paid what they’re worth. Plain and simple,” the trainer stated regarding the decision to pull out.
By declining the purse split, Davis relinquishes his immediate shot at Haney’s championship belt. Haney must now look for a replacement opponent, while Davis must rebuild his standing at welterweight through non-title fixtures.
