Davis Creates Haney vs Paro Unification Opportunity
When Keyshawn Davis turned down the opportunity to challenge Devin Haney for the WBO welterweight title, he did more than pass on the biggest payday of his career. He also opened the door for Haney to pursue an even better fight: an opportunity for a unification clash with IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro.
Rather than dwelling on what could have been, Haney (33-0, 15 KOs) appears to be moving toward a unification clash with the newly crowned IBF champion Paro. The two are targeting an October showdown. From a legacy standpoint, Paro (28-1, 16 KOs) is the superior option.
WHY PARO WOULD BE THE BETTER CHOICE
Davis (15-0, 10 KOs) has yet to accomplish anything at welterweight. Meanwhile, Paro is coming off the biggest victory of his career. In his most recent outing, the Australian defeated Lewis Crocker to capture the IBF welterweight championship, instantly establishing himself as one of the division’s top fighters. Therefore, victory over Paro would carry far more weight than beating a mandatory challenger.
There is also the issue of reliability. Haney accepted the ordered fight with Davis, and Top Rank secured promotional rights after winning the purse bid. However, Davis chose not to move forward with the bout, leaving the WBO to determine the next course of action. Whether his decision was financial or strategic, it deprived boxing fans of one of the sport’s most anticipated matchups.
Paro, meanwhile, presents a clear path toward championship unification. A Haney-Paro matchup would put two world titles on the line. The winner moves one step closer to becoming the dominant force at 147 pounds. Those are the types of fights that define careers.
If the October fight is finalized, Haney will have transformed an unfortunate situation into a far greater opportunity. Instead of defending against a fighter who walked away, he’ll have the chance to unify titles and strengthen his standing as the best welterweight in the world.
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