Rising lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis's ambitious push to challenge Devin Haney for the WBO welterweight title has been stopped in its tracks due to a formal eligibility barrier confirmed by the sanctioning body this week .

The World Boxing Organization confirmed that Davis cannot challenge Haney for the 147-pound championship because he is not currently ranked in the welterweight division. WBO president Gustavo Olivieri clarified that Davis remains rated only at junior welterweight and would need to submit a formal request to enter the welterweight rankings before becoming eligible for a title shot. No such request has been filed, leaving the talented contender outside the mandatory title path despite his vocal callouts.

The eligibility problem emerged after Davis's January 31 victory over Jamaine Ortiz, which marked his debut at 140 pounds. Following that performance, Davis immediately began targeting bigger fights and publicly challenging Deva=in Haney as he plotted his move toward welterweight. However, the 25-year-old's recent comments about sanctioning bodies may have complicated his title aspirations.

Speaking on the “It Is What It Is” podcast, Davis openly dismissed the value of sanctioning fees and championship belts in his career trajectory. “I'm not paying sanctioning fees no more, I don't feel like it's worth it,” Davis declared. “I'm a superstar. Superstars don't need belts. Belts need superstars”.

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He doubled down on that stance by questioning the entire system: “Once you become that superstar, what you paying for a belt for? Why you throwing your money down the drain for? It's like buying a chain. It looks good, but so what? Not trying to sh*t on WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO…but belts don't matter to a certain extent”.

Under WBO regulations, fighters must be formally rated in a division before they can be approved as title challengers . Several established contenders already occupy welterweight rankings, and without an official position, Davis cannot be considered for a championship opportunity regardless of public interest or social media exchanges .

The situation highlights the tension between modern boxing's promotional leverage and the traditional sanctioning system that controls title access. Davis has demonstrated ambition to accelerate his path toward elite competition, but the WBO's confirmation makes clear that administrative protocols still determine who receives title opportunities . Until Davis submits the required paperwork and enters the welterweight rankings, a clash with Haney remains officially blocked.