Keyshawn’s comments came shortly after Haney publicly entertained the possibility of facing Shakur, even suggesting he would be willing to adjust his weight to make the fight happen. The WBO welterweight champion has increasingly spoken about Stevenson as the biggest fight available to him despite Davis occupying the mandatory position.
The situation took another turn when Shakur reposted Davis’ message, appearing to back his close friend’s demand for Haney to fulfill his mandatory obligation.
Haney and Keyshawn have exchanged words repeatedly in recent weeks. Haney initially welcomed the matchup earlier this month when he publicly challenged Davis. More recently, however, his attention has moved toward Shakur, a fight that would likely generate significantly more commercial interest.
Keyshawn, an Olympic silver medalist who has quickly emerged as one of the sport’s most outspoken young contenders, has repeatedly stated that he wants the Haney fight and has described it as one of the biggest bouts that can be made in the division.
Haney captured the WBO welterweight title earlier this year and now faces increasing pressure to clarify his next move. If Stevenson remains his preferred option, questions will continue to follow regarding how long Davis will be forced to wait for the mandatory opportunity he believes he has earned.
Keyshawn has made his position clear for now. In his view, Haney should stop exploring alternatives and deal with the challenger standing directly in front of him.
