The veteran journalist says Top Rank and DAZN had already aligned their financial plan before the WBO hearing, leaving little room for genuine bidding.
Dan Rafael says the Devin Haney-Keyshawn Davis purse bid was designed to guarantee Keyshawn Davis received enough money to accept the WBO title fight rather than create a genuine bidding battle. He believes Top Rank and DAZN had already settled the commercial framework before the hearing took place.
“What I learned about purse bids before some of you were born is that they are often a device to ensure that the opponent shows up, in this case Davis,” Rafael said on X.
Rafael believes Haney’s financial terms with DAZN had already been settled well before Thursday’s hearing. In his view, Top Rank worked alongside the broadcaster to submit an offer that covered Haney’s agreed compensation while producing a mandatory share large enough for Davis under WBO rules.
Under the winning $8.55 million bid, Haney is guaranteed $6,412,500, with Davis receiving $2,137,500. Rafael argued those figures did not materialize by chance.
“And long before this bid happened Top Rank and DAZN had worked out their numbers with each other on what will be a PPV event. I guarantee you that,” Rafael said.
He also pointed to the lack of serious competition during the bidding as further evidence.
“Why no other major promoter bid is because they’re also with DAZN and DAZN obviously backed TR,” Rafael said.
If Rafael’s explanation is accurate, Keyshawn’s camp never had much leverage once negotiations reached the WBO hearing. Rather than driving the price higher, the process simply established the amount needed to secure the challenger’s participation.
Rafael reserved his harshest criticism for the decision to force the matter into a formal hearing.
“Whoever told Davis to force a bid or he made the decision on his own, it was just stupid,” Rafael said. “The kids never learn.”