Bradley says talks between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn leave Haney with one realistic option if he wants to keep his WBO welterweight title
Tim Bradley believes Devin Haney has run out of alternatives after Ryan Garcia moved closer to a fight with Conor Benn. The former two-division champion says Haney should stop looking elsewhere and make his WBO welterweight title defense against mandatory challenger Keyshawn Davis.
“Now your only option is Keyshawn Davis. That’s your only option. Who it gonna be? Who else do you got?” said Bradley on his channel.
Haney had been linked to several possible opponents in recent weeks, including Garcia, but the WBO has already ordered him to make a mandatory defense against Davis. Bradley believes the latest movement toward Garcia-Benn has effectively closed the door on another option.
Bradley also urged Haney not to surrender the title instead of facing the unbeaten contender.
“You can’t vacate that title, bro. You’re gonna look like a sucker, bro,” Bradley said. “If somebody’s chasing you like that, you want to get to them before they get to you.”
Rather than viewing Davis as a fight to avoid, Bradley argued that now is the ideal time for Haney to face him.
“I think it’s the perfect time because he’s just moving up in weight. Your skill, your experience, and what you bring to the table, man. It’s the perfect time, bro. I think it’s the perfect match that can be made,” Bradley said.
Bradley’s comments come as the WBO mandatory situation continues to tighten around Haney. With Garcia seemingly headed toward Conor Benn and Gervonta Davis still inactive, Bradley sees no viable alternative that makes more sense than honoring the mandatory against Keyshawn.
If Haney chooses to vacate instead, it would likely intensify criticism that he passed on one of the division’s most dangerous young contenders rather than defend his title against him.
