Devin Haney has been urged to pursue a fight with Gervonta Davis and abandon his plans to move up to 140lb.
Haney stepped in the ring for his latest undisputed title defence in Las Vegas at the weekend, controversially outpointing Vasyl Lomachenko, despite many suggesting the Ukrainian did enough to win the bout. There will likely be a multitude of big fights still available for the star including against American rival Shakur Stevenson and a second meeting with 'The Matrix'.
However the champion has revealed his plan to move up to 140lb and attempt to win titles as opposed to making any future defences in his current division. But Davis' trainer Calvin Ford believes that Haney could be tempted to stay in the division by a huge all-American clash this year.
"On my scorecard, I had it as a draw [fight with Lomachenko]," Ford told MillCity Boxing. "I thought Devin was effective in the first half of the fight. In the last round, I didn’t see nothing from nobody, but the judges felt that Devin did more than Loma. He’s a younger fighter with more opportunities. Loma is 35. It was a good fight for pay-per-view buys.
"I know one thing. I know one thing. He isn't ready for Tank. Devin’s team is saying, ‘F**k 135lb,’ and the only person that could make them change their minds is Tank at 135lb. They’re going up to 140lb if they’re willing to take that chance. If I was with their team, I’d say, ‘I’m fighting Tank. Get that payday and keep it moving.’ That 140lb is getting real deep.
"Tank pushed them all out of 135lb. ‘Get out of here.’ I’m like this. We [Gervonta] make 135lb real good. Why do we have to go up to 140lb? We’re the cash cow. I’m going to make them come to me."
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Davis recorded a huge win over Ryan Garcia to further boost his credentials at 135lb and is set to assess his options before a potential pursuit of the titles. Despite Haney's plans to move up following his win, a lucrative option against a fellow countryman could be appealing before he does elect to walk away from his belts.
However this could also be in doubt with Lomachenko's team confirming his intentions to appeal Saturday's result. “I’m going to say it just like it is - this is the biggest robbery in the middle of the day," Lomachenko's manager Eigis Klimas said. "For the other team, Christmas came in the summer. We are not going to let it go.
"I guarantee we are going to protest, I guarantee we are going to appeal that decision. I guarantee we are not going to let it go, we are going to go all the way to the end to appeal. Maybe we are not going to win, most likely it is going to be as it is, but we want to show that there has to be justice.”
