Last week, the boxing world was electrified with controversy after Bill Haney slammed Gervonta Davis for turning down an offer to fight his son Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney for a whopping sum of $20 million. Haney Sr. didn’t mince words when expressing his exasperation with Davis’s decision, stating it was a “blatant show of fear”.
“When someone declines that kind of money, it’s clear that they are scared. There’s no other explanation for it,” Haney said.
Bill Haney is the father and trainer of WWWBC interim lightweight champion Devin Haney. He had reportedly thrown the offer on the table, putting his faith in his son to win the potential fight. However, Davis and his management chose to pass on the substantial offer, a decision that Bill Haney publically condemned.
Adding fire to the flames of controversy, Bill Haney also sounded off on Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions which manages Gervonta Davis.
“Ellerbe is telling lies,” Bill Haney asserted. “Why would they not entertain a 20 million dollar deal if they believe their fighter can win? Either they don’t believe it, or Gervonta is dictating the fights.”
Ellerbe had previously stated that Davis’s decision was a strategic one, part of a plan to move Davis’s fight trajectory towards more established names in the boxing world, rather than take on rising stars like Devin Haney.
In the world of boxing, the decision to decline a fight is often seen as a fearful move. While there may be legitimate business or strategic reasons behind such decisions, the optics from a fan perspective can often be less understanding. This was the major point Bill Haney made in his criticism of Davis and Ellerbe.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis is known as a power puncher, with an impressive record of 24 wins and no losses. Although Davis is considered one of the top boxers in the lightweight division, Haney argued that accepting the fight against his son would be an opportunity to prove himself as an unchallenged champion of the division.
Devin Haney himself is an undefeated champion and has been slowly creeping his way up the ranks, adding credible names to his win list. The potential bout between ‘The Dream’ and Gervonta Davis promised to be a high-stake showdown, making Davis’s refusal a disappointing turn of events for boxing aficionados.
This isn’t the first time Davis has been called out for supposedly ducking fights. However, as long as he continues to win his battles in the ring, his stock will keep soaring.
Considering the fans’ anticipation, a match between these two boxing prodigies would be nothing short of thrilling. Perhaps, the respective parties may reconsider their decision, and we might see these titans clashing in the ring in the near future. As it stands, only time will tell. For now, the boxing world continues to buzz around this controversy sparked by Bill Haney’s public criticisms.
Despite the hiccup, the world of boxing promises exciting matchups in the coming months. After the dust settles, it will be intriguing to see what the next step is for these young warriors. Regardless of where they stand on this issue, one thing is certain – the boxing world will be continuously watching these two promising talents as their careers unfold. Regardless of whether they clash in the ring or continue on separate trajectories, we can be sure to expect more thrilling moments in the world of boxing.
