It is now official that KeyShawn Davis will defend his WBO lightweight title against inactive Edwin de Los Santos, Live on ESPN On Saturday, June 7 in Davis’s hometown Norfolk, Virginia. On the bottom map will see Keyshawn’s Brothers, Keon and Kelvin Davis. The event is shown on ESPN and ESPN+, from 22:00 Et/19:00 pm pt.
Inactive challenger
There are some questions about why De Los Santos (16-2, 14 COs) was selected as the challenger for Keyshawn to fight in his first defense of his belt. De Los Santos has three strikes against him:
- Inactive for 2 years = ring rust
- Lost his last battle
- Not well known to casual fans
It would have been better for fans if top rank bit the bullet and used Andy Cruz of Raymond Muratalla as Keyshawn’s opponent for the 7th card. If he were to lose against one of them, the top rank would at least know what they got in him and dumped him in favor of other fighters. The last thing that Top Rank needs is a fighter who has to protect them with soft match to keep his head above water.
The two main fights on the 7th of June-Davis-De Los Santos card were already leaked. So, today’s announcement by Top Rank just confirms what hardcore box fans already knew.
Mason’s “Step Up”?
In the co-function, lightweight Abdullah Mason (18-0, 16 food) battles Jeremiah Nakathilia (26-4, 21 food) in a 10 round. It is supposed to be a step for Mason (21), but it is more a lateral move of the kind of opposition he faces.
Raymond Muratalla and Ernesto Mercado blew out 35-year-old Nakathilia in two rounds. He was also beaten healthy by Shakur Stevenson. Nakathila won his last three fights, although at low-level opposition.
The top ranking still seems to be careful about taking Mason chances after seeing him fall twice by Yohan Vasquez in November. It was a fight that showed what some of Abdullah suspected. He has a chin problem And can’t take a punch. However, putting him into Nakathilia poses a certain degree of risk, as the veteran has equal power to Yohan, and if he catches Mason with something hard, he will probably drop him.
The lightweight contender offered the fight against Abdullah, Floyd Schofield, wanted $ 2.5 million, which is the kind of money that challengers receive against popular world champions. Mason is not either.
Last updated on 04/17/2025
