Devin Haney has a big decision to make regarding his WBO welterweight title.
He won the belt back in November with a one-sided win over Brian Norman Jr, dropping the previously unbeaten American before going on to claim a dominant unanimous decision victory.
That triumph has gone alongside Haney’s previous reigns as undisputed lightweight champion and WBC super-lightweight champion, but many fans felt it was arguably a career-best performance from ‘The Dream’ as he made a big impact upon his 147lb debut.
Speculation has been rife since that win about what Haney plans to do next, with the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis mentioned as possible opponents, but there is also mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis waiting in the wings.
The teams of Haney and Davis were previously ordered to begin negotiations over the fight, and after no deal was able to be reached, the WBO have now confirmed that purse bids have been called.
The WBO World Championship Committee has officially ordered purse bid proceedings for the World Welterweight Mandatory Championship between WBO World Champion Devin Haney and Official Mandatory Challenger Keyshawn Davis.
🗓️ Purse Bid: Monday, July 27, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. AST pic.twitter.com/BXlplk6LfF
— WBO (@WorldBoxingOrg) July 20, 2026
“The WBO World Championship Committee has officially ordered purse bid proceedings for the World Welterweight Mandatory Championship between WBO World Champion Devin Haney and Official Mandatory Challenger Keyshawn Davis. Purse Bid: Monday, July 27, 2026 | 11:00 a.m. AST.”
Davis is the former WBO lightweight champion, who has since moved up in weight after losing his belt on the scales, claiming victories over Jamaine Ortiz and Nahir Albright so far this year.
Despite never competing at 147lbs, his position as mandatory means that Haney must decide by July 27th whether he wants to proceed with the fight, or if he will choose to vacate the belt and turn his attention to other opportunities.
