Andy Cruz wants another fight with Keyshawn Davis, and he is not backing away from criticizing his longtime rival after Davis passed on an ordered WBO welterweight title fight against Devin Haney.
The Olympic gold medalist made it clear that he still wants to face Keyshawn. When asked about the possibility of renewing their rivalry in the professional ranks, he welcomed the matchup.
“I like that fight,” Cruz said to YSM Sports Media about meeting Davis again. “I come for you. Be careful.”
Their rivalry has been one-sided so far. Cruz defeated Keyshawn four times in the amateurs, including their gold medal bout at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, making him one of the few opponents Davis never solved.
He was also asked about Keyshawn’s decision to pull out of the ordered WBO title fight with Devin Haney.
“I don’t know,” Cruz said through a translator. “He’s taking care of himself like a baby. He’s protecting his record.”
Asked if he believed Davis would have beaten Haney, Cruz kept his answer brief.
“Fifty-fifty,” he said.
The discussion later turned to Cruz’s future weight class. After previously expressing interest in fighting at 130 pounds, he indicated that lightweight also remains in play.
“130, 135 I’m ready,” Cruz said.
That flexibility gives Cruz options, but neither weight class fits in with Keyshawn’s current plans for his career. Davis has chosen to campaign at welterweight after pulling out of his ordered WBO title fight with Devin Haney, and he also missed weight for his last scheduled bout at 140 pounds against Nahir Albright. He’s outgrown lightweight and light welterweight.
Unless Keyshawn changes direction, there appears to be only one realistic path to reviving their rivalry in the professional ranks. Cruz will likely need to make it clear that he is willing to move up to 147 pounds because there is little indication Davis intends to return to lightweight or light welterweight.
