'The ball is in their court': Keyshawn Davis says he's waiting on Andy Cruz to accept a fight against him
11/06/2024 10:10 AM
While Keyshawn Davis targets a world title, he discusses what potential fights are on the table for him.
Keyshawn Davis takes some time to talk to Fight Hub TV about his thoughts on mapping out his plans for the upcoming year as he targets a world title opportunity. Davis answers questions about a number of fights he's looking forward to making, but says it's pretty obvious that opponents like Andy Cruz aren't ready for him just yet and that there's only so much he can do from his end. Check out some excerpts from Davis below.
Davis on his plans for 2025 and his discussions with Top Rank
"Well the only thing that's mandatory right now is me getting my world title. After I become a world champion it's always more to accomplish but I would say my name is solidified in the sport now — not only did I become an Olympic silver medalist but now I'm a world champion. And those two things you can't take away you got to respect. So that's definitely the conversation we having now, is getting me that world title.
"I'm imagining that Lomachenko, he probably fight one more time and then retire. Hopefully he pick me to fight. Whoever he pick, I'm pretty sure he going to retire afterwards. So if he pick me, great, I'll fight him and get the IBF. But if he don't, I'm imagining he'll win his fight and retire, then I'm going to go for the [vacant] IBF.
"Right now me and Denys Berinchyk, we friends, bro. We hit each other up in the DMs all the time, talking, he wish me luck, I wish him luck, he give me updates and stuff like that. So either or. I feel like both of those two lanes is open for me."
On his thoughts regarding Tank choosing to fight Lamont Roach next
"I think that's a great fight for the DMV. Them guys know each other very well, we all know each other very well. We all from the DMV, we all came up with each other through the amateurs, through the pros...you know, best man win."
On the 135 pound landscape
"Not in no specific order but Tank, Shakur and me, I think we're the best at 135. People not going to give me credit because they say I got to become a champion, I got to do this, I got to do that. Bro, the proof is in the pudding. Skills, power and speed, IQ, like bro — Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn and Tank are the best at 135, period. We need to fight."
On when he thinks the right time is for him to fight Andy Cruz
"The ball is in their court. We're waiting on them. We already sent them a contract, we already sent Kid Austin a contract. Kid Austin's promoter said 'we don't want to entertain Keyshawn.' I'm not getting up here fuckin' lying to ya'll. Kid Austin's promoter said they don't want to entertain me. I already got on live with Eddie Hearn and told Eddie Hearn to set up the fight. I don't know what more ya'll want me to do.
"I already tried to fight these guys when I was still co-maining. Now I'm main eventing. I can fight him now as a main event. If I send him a contract, are they going to sign it? I don't fuckin' know but at the end of the day I'm going for my world title and I'm going for the biggest fights out there. He is one of the biggest fights out there that I do want fuckin' fight, like next fight type shit. But I'm not going to keep entertaining something that they not ready yet.
"What he 3-0, 4-0? Like he's not ready yet. He don't even have a fan base. His entire fan base is built around me. Again, I would want to fight him next fight but his promoters and managers are saying no."
