Keyshawn had previously lost his lightweight title on the scales when he came in 4.3 pounds overweight for a scheduled defense against Edwin De Los Santos. The fight was canceled, ending his run at 135 pounds and increasing speculation that a move to a higher division was coming.

The latest WBO rankings place Keyshawn at the front of the line despite never having fought at welterweight. The opening came after Jack Catterall moved out of the top position while pursuing a WBA title opportunity against Shakhram Giyasov.

Davis has spent much of the year calling for a fight with Haney. The new ranking now gives him a stronger position from which to pursue that matchup.

Rather than spending the next year or two working his way through the welterweight division, Davis finds himself directly behind the champion in the WBO standings. The ranking places him ahead of several established contenders already competing at 147 pounds.

Haney captured the WBO welterweight title earlier this year and is expected to fulfill a mandatory defense in the coming months. Davis now appears well-positioned if the organization chooses to move in that direction.

The possibility of a Haney-Davis fight has been discussed for months through interviews and social media exchanges. Tuesday’s ranking update brought that matchup one step closer to becoming a reality.