WBO World Welterweight Champion Devin Haney is facing a hard choice from the WBO. He has been told to defend his title against mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis or vacate the belt.
As per Ring Magazine, the sanctioning body has reaffirmed its stance and has left no room for Haney to pursue other matchups before clearing his mandatory obligation.
The reaffirmation lands at a notable moment. Haney recently traded messages with Shakur Stevenson online, with both men appearing open to a 144-pound catchweight showdown that fans have wanted for years.
With neither fighter currently scheduled to return, that social-media flirtation quickly fueled speculation. The WBO’s response makes clear that any dream fight will have to wait.
WBO Order Stands Between Haney And Stevenson
The organizational stakes are now plain. Haney must face Davis or surrender his WBO title, full stop.
That puts a choice in front of the champion and injects real title-stripping consequences into what had been casual back-and-forth between Haney and Stevenson. The Stevenson talk was the backdrop that prompted the WBO to publicly restate its stance.
Haney has been linked to other negotiations in recent weeks, as detailed when Haney fired back at Rolando Romero’s Ryan Garcia comparison amid ongoing talks about his next move.