If Davis is serious about wanting the fight now, it would signal a sharp change in direction. He has shown no real interest in facing Cruz as a professional. Cruz, meanwhile, has continued to fight publicly, repeatedly referring to Davis as “my son,” a line meant to underscore the imbalance he believes still exists between them.
Taking the fight would represent a real gamble for Davis, especially with his attention drifting to welterweight. He has openly talked about moving up to 147 to challenge Devin Haney for the WBO title. For that path to remain open, Davis must first defeat Jamaine Ortiz on Jan. 31 at Madison Square Garden.
Even then, the finances are likely to depend on the Riyadh season supporting the idea. A Davis victory over Haney would complicate plans for a second fight between Haney and Ryan Garcia, a rematch whose value drops sharply if Haney loses.
“Let’s just say Andy Cruz knocks Muratalla out. Okay, boom, now we can fight,” Davis told The The Ring Magazine. “You just knocked out Muratalla. Forget about 147. Let’s see how we can make that fight happen.”
Skepticism is justified. Davis has everything to lose against Cruz and nothing in his previous meetings suggests the outcome would change. He lost every time they fought, and the margins widened rather than narrowed.
None of that matters if Davis doesn’t get past Ortiz. Many fans see that fight as a toss up. Ortiz looks faster, throws cleaner combinations and has faced a stronger level of opposition. He also stayed busier. Top Rank’s cautious handling of Davis against lesser opposition may eventually catch up to him.
“Right now there’s a lot going on with me and Devin Haney. It’s a big battle for me,” Davis said. “Why don’t you go to 147 and fight him?”
He also floated other options, including a fight with newly crowned champion Dalton Smith in the UK. But it all depends on January 31st. Lose there, and the Cruz talk becomes irrelevant. Win, and Davis has yet to decide if he actually wants to face the one fighter who has always had his number.
Video: Andy Cruz vs. Keyshawn Davis, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Lightweight Final
