Eddie Hearn, the well-known promoter, has expressed a desire to see some exciting matches in the lightweight division. He’s hoping to see the current WBO lightweight champion, Keyshawn Davis, take on Andy Cruz, and also wants a bout between Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis. The winners of these intriguing matchups would then square off to determine who’s truly the best at 135 pounds.
However, this plan seems more of a dream than a reality for now. Keyshawn Davis, boasting an impressive record of 13-0 with 9 knockouts, has made it clear he’s not willing to fight Cruz unless the financial incentives are substantial. The word from Keyshawn is, “I’m not fighting Cruz for pennies.” If the lucrative offers aren’t on the table at 135, Keyshawn suggests Cruz will need to face him at 140, assuming that’s where the money leads.
### Keyshawn’s Expectations
Cruz hasn’t yet captured the public’s imagination to the degree where Top Rank or ESPN wants to shell out the big bucks to see him take on Keyshawn. Davis’ record has largely been established by defeating lesser-known fighters, and Cruz, with a 5-0 record featuring 2 KOs, is somewhat in the same boat. Hearn seems to be focusing more on promoting Shakur than pushing Cruz into the spotlight.
On February 14th, in a match that showcased his growing prowess, the 25-year-old Keyshawn swooped in and claimed the WBO lightweight title from Denys Berinchyk, knocking him out in the fourth round. After the weigh-in, observers noted his substantial size advantage, likening him to a middleweight. It was a marvel that he made the weight in the first place.
Eddie Hearn shared his enthusiasm with Fighthype, expressing, “I’d like to see Shakur Stevenson against Gervonta Davis and Keyshawn Davis against Andy Cruz. The winners fight the winners.”
Yet, Keyshawn’s stance remains firm. As he said on Shawn Porter’s YouTube channel, “I want to fight Andy Cruz before I move up to 140. I’m not doing it for small change.” Calling out the scenario, he added, “He’s not getting money for that” when informed about Cruz being the WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson’s top contender.
Keyshawn firmly stated, “I’m not going to face Cruz for the same money as before. No way.” It appears that Keyshawn’s path doesn’t lie in fighting Cruz while he remains in the 135-pound category. It might be for the best, given their history – Cruz schooled him four times in the amateurs.
### Money Talks
There’s a marketing challenge with Cruz, who’s a Latino fighter not speaking English and lacking a strong American fanbase. Promoting him effectively remains difficult. This promotional struggle is why Keyshawn’s name often comes up; there isn’t a straightforward way to market Cruz to U.S. boxing fans as he fights on DAZN.
Reflecting on this, Porter commented, “Keyshawn is right. If the money’s not there, it doesn’t make sense. Maybe moving him to 140 would make more financial sense.”
Agreeing with Porter, Keyshawn noted, “If it doesn’t bring in the money, what’s the point? We could potentially make more at 140 than at 135, so Cruz might have to step up to 140.” He even joked about the relentless comparisons to Cruz, saying, “I could knock out Canelo, and people would still remind me about Cruz beating me in the amateurs.”
It’s evident Keyshawn’s using the financial narrative as a reason to sidestep Cruz, maintaining an unbeaten streak for as long as possible. Yet, rumors suggest that Keyshawn’s next opponent might be Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, as hinted on Porter’s channel, which could make for an intriguing and uneven battle.
Ultimately, the boxing world continues to buzz with speculations on these potential matchups, and perhaps more exciting developments are on the horizon!
