Bob Arum says Top Rank granted Keyshawn Davis a release at his request despite one fight left, and the Hitchins bout is off after Davis reportedly asked for $6 million.
What you need to know
- Bob Arum says Keyshawn Davis requested and received a release from Top Rank with one fight remaining.
- Arum showed no interest in a legal fight over the exit.
- The planned Davis vs Richardson Hitchins fight has fallen apart, with Hitchins saying Davis demanded $6 million.
Keyshawn Davis is now a free agent in all but name, and Top Rank is not trying to stop him. Bob Arum told Joe Profit of the O.S.O.S. podcast that Davis asked for a release and got it, even with one fight left on the contract, according to Bad Left Hook.
Arum was dismissive about it and made clear he had no appetite for a legal fight. That fits a run of difficult months for a promotional relationship that once looked secure.
Davis, a 27-year-old American Olympic silver medalist, is 15-0 with 10 knockouts, according to Bad Left Hook. Last year he missed weight ahead of a planned lightweight title defense against Edwin De Los Santos. Bad Left Hook also reports he turned down more than $2 million to fight Devin Haney for the WBO welterweight title, a bout Top Rank had arranged even though he had not yet fought at 147.
The release matters most for the fight Davis wanted next. He had recently targeted Richardson Hitchins, a 29-year-old American, but that bout has fallen apart. According to Hitchins, Davis demanded $6 million. Bad Left Hook's writer notes that Hitchins describes the figure as more than twice Davis' largest purse to date.
The outlet's view is sharply critical of Davis, calling him possibly the most entitled fighter in recent memory. That is opinion rather than reporting, but the facts underneath it are what matter: Davis has walked away from a title shot and a promoter in quick succession.
What to watch now is where Davis lands and who will meet his price as a free agent. No new opponent or promotional home has been announced.
Arum was dismissive about it and made clear he had no appetite for a legal fight. That fits a run of difficult months for a promotional relationship that once looked secure.
Davis, a 27-year-old American Olympic silver medalist, is 15-0 with 10 knockouts, according to Bad Left Hook. Last year he missed weight ahead of a planned lightweight title defense against Edwin De Los Santos. Bad Left Hook also reports he turned down more than $2 million to fight Devin Haney for the WBO welterweight title, a bout Top Rank had arranged even though he had not yet fought at 147.
The release matters most for the fight Davis wanted next. He had recently targeted Richardson Hitchins, a 29-year-old American, but that bout has fallen apart. According to Hitchins, Davis demanded $6 million. Bad Left Hook's writer notes that Hitchins describes the figure as more than twice Davis' largest purse to date.
The outlet's view is sharply critical of Davis, calling him possibly the most entitled fighter in recent memory. That is opinion rather than reporting, but the facts underneath it are what matter: Davis has walked away from a title shot and a promoter in quick succession.
What to watch now is where Davis lands and who will meet his price as a free agent. No new opponent or promotional home has been announced.
- Summary
- Bob Arum says Top Rank granted Keyshawn Davis a release at his request despite one fight left, and the Hitchins bout is off after Davis reportedly asked for $6 million.
- Key points (one per line)
- Bob Arum says Keyshawn Davis requested and received a release from Top Rank with one fight remaining.
Arum showed no interest in a legal fight over the exit.
The planned Davis vs Richardson Hitchins fight has fallen apart, with Hitchins saying Davis demanded $6 million.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Bad Left Hook | https://www.badlefthook.com/boxing-news/119787/top-rank-cuts-bait-on-keyshawn-davis
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Fighters in this story
Keyshawn Davis
Richardson Hitchins
Devin HaneySources
Bad Left HookSummarized with AI from the sources above. Read the originals for the full story.
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