Keyshawn Davis. Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images
Not since the days of Pernell Whitaker has there been a boxing event of this magnitude to hit The Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
At just 25 years old, Keyshawn Davis wasn’t there to see “Sweet Pea” take on the biggest arena in the “Mermaid City,” but he heard plenty of stories from the entire city supporting their boxing star. The Boxing Hall of Famer has fought there 10 times — in addition to a number of other times in the Hampton Roads area — and now the Olympic silver medalist turned lightweight contender in 2020 is hoping to start a tradition of his own there.
Davis (11-0, 7 KOs) will face Gustavo Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs) in the ten round main event on Friday, Nov. 8 at The Scope, with the bout airing live on ESPN+.
Davis says the only previous events he attended at The Scope were the Christmas high school basketball games, where his high school team would be in action and so would Davis, who would chat with girls from around the area. Now he is going to be the main attraction.
“The vibe is crazy. The day they dropped off the tickets, they camped outside the box office at 4am to get the tickets as Jordans were going to drop off. The city is going crazy for this,” Davis told The Ring in a video interview.
However, Keyshawn won’t be the only Davis on the card. His older brother Kelvin Davis (13-0, 7 KOs) will face Yeis Solano (15-3, 10 KOs) in an eight-round junior welterweight bout, while his younger brother, 2024 US Olympic Trials Champion Keon Davis will make his pro debut will square off in a four-round welterweight bout against Jalen Moore (1-1, 1 KO).
Together, the brothers form a collective they call “DB3”. While Keyshawn and Kelvin have fought on the same cards many times, both amateur and professional, Keyshawn has never fought on the same card as his 23-year-old brother, which is an added advantage for this event.
“For DB3 to bring the Davis brothers back to town and just reflect on the last time he did that, which is 30 years. It’s like a person, we have to do it as big or bigger, so we have to reach out to as many people like him, children, families, to let the people know there is a new spark in the city. It’s something new, it’s something fresh, it’s not a concert coming to town, it’s not celebrities you’ve never seen before, it’s not football or basketball, it’s a boxing event and these three boxers all grew up in the city. We all went to elementary school, we all went to elementary school and high school in the city. People actually know us because we are in the city. It’s big for us, but it’s big for the city because they know where we’re coming from,” Davis said.
Against Lemos, 28, of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Davis fights what many expect to be his toughest fight to date, although Davis says that has been the case almost every time he’s stepped into the ring. Lemos will only be fighting in the United States for the second time, but he made a significant impact in that fight, losing a close decision to Richardson Hitchins in April.
“It was definitely a 50-50 fight, it could have gone either way or it could have been a draw,” Davis said when asked about Lemos vs. Hitchins.
“What am I going to do with him? I’m going to beat his ass. I’m not going to play with him. Every time I fight, people are like ‘Oh Keyshawn fight this person, he’s a step up’ and then I go in there and beat their ass. Because I am not greedy, I only know what God has gifted me with. I am gifted with a blessing, and many fighters are not blessed.”
Should he get past Lemos, Davis says he has his sights set on anyone with a 135-pound belt, whether it’s IBF titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko or WBO titleholder Denys Berinchyk, but the highest-profile possible matchup Keyshawn Davis could face, will be against Gervonta “Tank.” Davis, holder of the WBA belt and one of the sport’s biggest box office draws.
Keyshawn Davis wasn’t shy about calling out the undefeated Baltimore native, though he isn’t optimistic about “Tank” Davis seeking that fight.
“I was definitely interested in fighting, I didn’t call him out for no reason. If Tank wants to fight me, he’ll send me a contract, like he sent Frank Martin a contract, like he sent Lamont Roach a contract. He can do anything he wants to do,” Keyshawn Davis said.
“I would beat the crap out of Tank. He’s too short, he won’t be able to touch me. You can’t just give up rounds on me, there’s a lot of habits he’s created that he can’t do against me.”
