Gustavo Lemos stands in the middle of the ring after stopping Javier Clavero – Photo by Nelson Quispe/Boxeo de Primera
Argentina’s Gustavo Lemos has had his share of weight ups and downs, like most fighters trying to find their center.
At one point he was the no. 1 contender for the IBF belt at 135 pounds and he had to give up that opportunity due to his inability to make weight. But now, after two fights at 140 and a 1-1 record, including a narrow decision loss in his first time overseas, Lemos is headed back down to 135, a weight class he claims he never left. to face rising contender Keyshawn Davis. A 10-round main event on Friday, November 8, at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
“I’m a lightweight,” claimed Lemos (29-1, 19 knockouts) during a phone interview. “In my last fight we were OK and well under the division limit, and when this opportunity came up at 135, we took it because we knew we were going to be able to make this weight. I got this opportunity to fight in this category where I feel stronger, and we are going to make a difference here. I believe we will be strong for this lightweight fight. Davis will definitely feel the force.”
Lemos returns to the lightweight division for the first time in over two years. He last fought at 135 pounds in March 2022 when he stopped British former world champion Lee Selby in five rounds at Buenos Aires’ legendary Luna Park stadium in front of his hometown fans. But then it took him more than a year to return to action, amid allegations of canceled fights and inability to make more 135. He finally made his comeback in December 2023, stopping Javier Jose Clavero in the opening round and setting the stage for his American debut in April.
Although that fight didn’t go his way, he certainly earned more than a few fans with his forward demeanor and his punching power.
“We did well last time,” the 28-year-old Lemos said of his first foray abroad, which took place in Las Vegas in April against Richardson Hitchins. “Now that we have some experience with this, I believe we will feel more comfortable. Obviously, we’re always in strange areas, but that’s not a problem for me. As soon as I get in the ring, my personality changes one hundred percent. I fight the same way I would fight in my own backyard.”
The fight against Hitchins was an IBF junior welterweight world title eliminator, which signaled a change of division for Lemos, but he is now preparing to shed five extra pounds to face legitimate lightweight contender and US Olympic silver medalist to pack
Lemos doesn’t seem impressed by those credentials.
“I don’t study my opponents, I never studied anything about my opponents. I know he went to the Olympics, and that he is doing well. He thinks he is the best in the division, or he feels he will be the best one day. But he’ll have to go through me first,” said Lemos, who also doesn’t see Davis’ height and advantages as a concern.
Gustavo Lemos (left) moves in for the murder of Lee Selby (right) in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 26 – Photo by Juan Montani
“I’m used to fighting taller guys. Hitchins was much taller than me and had a bigger frame, and some punching power. Let’s hope that (Davis) will come and fight, instead of getting on the bike and running away from me in the first few laps. I hope we can give the fans a good show.”
With the heartbreak of the Hitchins fight still fresh in his mind, Lemos claims he is still as focused on this fight as he should be.
“It motivates me to train harder,” Lemos said of his only loss so far. “We train hard and with a good conscience. We are not stopping, and we are happy that we got the call from Top Rank again. I had a lot of support from my family and from many people who saw me win, not only in Argentina. The defeat didn’t affect me, it’s just a number on a board now. After the fight, you naturally think about everything we could have done. We were in good shape but Hitchins put up a good fight and that’s it.”
Should Lemos beat Davis, he will need to be in the best shape of his life if he is to truly take on the challenges he has in mind for the future.
“We feel after winning this fight, we can go after the most famous fighters, like (Vasyl) Lomachenko, or (George) Kambosos (Jr.). But first we have to take this test,” said Lemos. “First, I have to take care of Davis. After that will come the battles. I just hope it’s a good fight and people are happy with the work we’re going to do.”
Davis (11-0, 7 KOs)rated at No. 7 by The Ring at lightweightbegan the year with a sixth-round TKO of former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza. Five months later, he dominated Mexican puncher Miguel Madueño over 10 rounds. He now makes his headlining debut in a homecoming event that will also feature his older brother, up-and-coming junior welterweight Kelvin “Night Night” Davis (13-0, 7 KOs), who takes on Yeis Solano (15-3, 10 KOs) in an eight-round will fight -around. Keyshawn’s younger brother, US Olympic Trials champion Keon Daviswill make his pro debut in a four-round welterweight contest.
The whole Davis–Oranges card will stream live and exclusively in the US on ESPN+.
Diego M. Morilla has written for The Ring since 2013. He has also written for HBO.com, ESPN.com and many other magazines, websites, newspapers and outlets since 1993. He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and a voter for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He has won two first-place awards in the BWAA’s annual writing contest, and he is the moderator of The Ring’s Women’s Rating Panel. He served as copy editor for the second era of The Ring en Español (2018-2020) and is currently a writer and editor for RingTV.com.
