“Albright is a certified natural Philly treat, a guy you should avoid,” Sergio Mora said on Chris Mannix’s show.
That quote captures the problem with this rematch against Nahir Albright. This is a dangerous situation, especially when one considers the psychological side of it. Rematches against spoilers like Nahir Albright are about surviving a guy who has already figured out how to make you look bad.
Many fans had their first fight a draw. One of the official judges felt the same way, and the reality is that Keyshawn struggled with Albright’s height and timing. Bringing him back for a homecoming is a big risk because Albright is a specialist in ruining big nights.
On the surface, it looks like a homecoming. Same city, familiar opponent, built-in storyline of their first fight, and the fallout between the camps. Those elements make it easy to sell.
Complaining about a win being overturned because of a failed drug test, even for marijuana, rarely sits well with fans. It dismissed the fact that rules are rules in professional boxing, and the “buy a house” comment felt tone-deaf to many who felt that Keyshawn had yet to achieve that level of success in the ring.
“Why do you have to fight that you already had your hands full with this guy? This guy already taught you the way you taught him,” Mora said.
Top Rank has a very specific way of moving their blue-chip prospects. Since the Albright scare, they’ve largely switched to guys like Jose Pedraza, who has been a shell of his former self, or Miguel Madueno. These fights are designed to rebuild the KO artist image without the risk of a real upset for Keyshaw.
Albright has already “taught” Keyshawn. In their first fight, Albright realized he could take Keyshawn’s power and still be there in the 10th round. That confidence makes a treat even more dangerous the second time around.
While the recent streak of opponents may feel like a streak of safe bets, Albright is different. He is not a gimmee in the traditional sense because he is not coming to lose. He comes to make the fight ugly, frustrate the A side and steal rounds.
If Keyshawn hasn’t made significant adjustments to how he handles pressure and awkward moves, Norfolk may not be the celebration Top Rank expects.
