Keyshawn Davis celebrates a sixth-round knockout of former two-division titlist Jose Pedraza on Feb. 8 in Las Vegas. Photo credit: Mikey Williams, Top Rank.
Keyshawn Davis will go home for his first starring role.
The Ring confirmed that hard plans are in place for Davis to headline a Nov. 8 show on an ESPN platform. The event will take place at Scope Arena in Davis’ hometown of Norfolk, Virginia.
Davis said on X that Gustavo Lemos is the likely opponent, confirms a report from ESPN.com’s Mike Coppinger.
“Homecoming or not, I’m giving the fans big fights,” Davis posted. “On that I stand!”
Homecoming or NOT, I’m giving the fans big fights I Stand On That! #davisVSlemos
— Keyshawn Davis (@KeyshawnDavis8) August 23, 2024
The lightweight bout will mark the third ring appearance of the year for Davis (11-0, 7 KOs), a 2020 Olympic silver medalist. It also represents his first pro fight in Virginia, where he was born and raised.
Top Rank hopes to start a new tradition for Davis, similar to what the late Hall of Fame great Pernell Whitaker was able to bring to the city.
Whitaker played the Scope Arena ten times, including a revenge-driven victory in August 1989 over Jose Luis Ramirez to avenge his controversial first career loss. His last fight there was a replay victory over James ‘Buddy’ McGirt to defend his line and WBC welterweight championship in October 1994.
Hall of Fame former Ring/Linear Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes had the final fight of his storied career at Scope Arena. This came in a July 2002 ruling on Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch.
Davis was dominant in a ten-round, unanimous decision over Miguel Madueno (31-3, 28 KOs) on July 6 in Newark, New Jersey. The Ring’s number 7 rated lightweight served in a supporting capacity for longtime friend and three-division titlist Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs).
Five months earlier, he defeated faded former two-division titlist Jose Pedraza (29-6-1, 14 KOs). That fight took place on Top Rank’s pre-Super Bowl card in Las Vegas.
‘The Businessman’ now holds the top spot as he continues his run for a lightweight title.
He will pass his toughest test yet, at least on paper.
Argentina’s Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs) was unfortunate to suffer his lone loss in his most recent fight.
The 28-year-old from Argentina provided matches for Brooklyn’s Richardson Hitchins, who claimed an unpopular decision in their DAZN main event on April 6 in Las Vegas. Most viewers and those in attendance felt Lemos deserved the nod in their IBF 140-pound title eliminator.
Lemos will be running at state for the second straight time. His proposed bout against Davis would mark a return to lightweight, assuming he can safely make the weight.
That was not the case in a planned stay-at-home fight that went awry last summer. Lemos—the IBF lightweight at the time—was 18 due to compatriot Javier Jose Clavero last August, but missed weight by eight pounds. The commission called for a same-day weigh-in at a maximum of 140 pounds. However, Lemos missed that point as well.
The fallout caused a ripple effect. Lemos lost his No. 1 ranking at lightweight at the worst time. All the belts became available when Devin Haney abdicated his RING and undisputed throne.
Lemos was initially named as the mandatory challenger following his March 2022 knockout victory over Wales’ Lee Selby.
The Ring has learned of three possible undercard slots on the show.
One obvious slot is reserved for Troy Isley (13-0, 5 KOs), Davis’ stablemate and Tokyo Olympics teammate. Isley hails from Alexandria, about three hours from Norfolk.
Two sources with knowledge of the situation inform The Ring that Isley could face Tyler Howard (20-1, 11 KOs).
Less certain, but more significant to the broadcast, WBO welterweight titleholder Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) is in line to get the co-feature slot.
Norman is currently in talks – at least through social media – for a welterweight unification bout against IBF titlist Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs). It comes across as more than posturing, although Ennis needs a better option than his current business. The Ring’s number 1 rated welterweight was ordered to face mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian in an unnecessary rematch following his disqualification win in January 2023.
This could work to Norman’s advantage, although it would require an offer that is likely more than fair market value to secure the fight. The Ring’s number 5 rated welterweight was recently upgraded to full WBO title holder. He won an interim version of the belt in a tenth-round knockout of Giovani Santillan on May 18.
Potential opponents for Norman were not made available to The Ring as it went to publication.
The show is also rumored to feature top lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason (15-0, 13 KOs). It will serve as the fifth ring appearance of a can’t-miss 2024 Prospect of the Year run for the 20-year-old southpaw. All four of his fights on the year ended in knockouts, no longer than four rounds.
