Davis Pulls Out of Haney Bout After Rejecting $2.14 Million Purse Split

Keyshawn Davis has withdrawn from his Oct. 3 title challenge against Devin Haney after declining a 25% share of Top Rank's $8.55 million winning bid.

Keyshawn Davis (15-0, 10 KOs) has officially withdrawn from his ordered WBO welterweight title challenge against champion Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KOs). The WBO announced the cancellation on Friday, July 31, 2026, following Davis’s rejection of the purse bid adjudication. Top Rank, the promotional firm representing Davis, had secured the promotional rights to the matchup on Thursday with a winning bid of $8.55 million. Under the WBO's 75/25 split regulations for this bout, Haney was scheduled to receive $6.41 million, while Davis was allocated $2.14 million.

The championship fight had been targeted for October 3 before Davis informed the sanctioning body of his decision to pull out. This development follows Davis’s most recent performance in May, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over Nahir Albright. Davis previously held the WBO lightweight championship before moving up in weight to become the mandatory challenger in the welterweight division.

Financial Breakdown of the $8.55 Million Bid

The financial terms of the Haney-Davis bout were dictated by the WBO's purse bid process conducted on Thursday. Devin Haney, who currently holds the No. 7 spot on ESPN’s pound-for-pound rankings, was entitled to the lion's share of the $8.55 million total. His 75% stake amounted to exactly $6,412,500. Conversely, the 25% share offered to Davis totaled $2,137,500, a figure the challenger ultimately declined. This refusal to accept the split led directly to his removal from the October 3 date.

Devin Haney’s Championship Pedigree

Devin Haney entered this scheduled defense as a three-weight world champion. He captured the WBO welterweight title in November by defeating Brian Norman Jr. This victory marked his successful transition into a third weight class, having previously secured world titles in both the lightweight and junior welterweight divisions. Haney maintains an undefeated professional record of 33 wins with 15 victories coming by way of knockout.

WBO Sanctioning Body Response

Following the formal withdrawal by Davis, the WBO stated that the matter is being transitioned to internal departments for review. The WBO Championship Committee and Ratings Committee will now handle the case to determine the appropriate ruling under the organization’s World Championship Rules and Regulations. This process will dictate the future status of the welterweight mandatory position and Haney's next title defense requirements.

Davis, who remains undefeated through 15 professional contests, must now wait for the committee's ruling to see how this withdrawal affects his standing within the WBO rankings. The sanctioning body’s Friday announcement confirmed that the adjudication process is the primary reason for the bout’s dissolution, as the challenger chose not to proceed under the financial terms established by the Top Rank bid. No replacement opponent or alternative date for Haney has been confirmed by the WBO at this time.