NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — In preparation of his first defense of his WBO lightweight championship, Keyshawn Davis met with the media Friday in a nationally-streamed press conference at the Attucks Theatre in Norfolk.
Keyshawn Davis, known as “The Businessman,” will fight Edwin De Los Santos (16-2, 14 KOs) June 7 at Norfolk’s Scope Arena.
(Photo – Cortez Grayson/WAVY)
Keyshawn Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) showed he was one of the sport’s top hometown ticket-sellers that November when he faced Argentina’s former No. 1 world-rated contender, Gustavo Lemos, in Norfolk’s biggest boxing event since the late Pernell Whitaker fought Buddy McGirt 30 years prior.
Despite Lemos being more than six pounds overweight, Keyshawn knocked him out in the second round in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,568.
“Norfolk brings that type of energy,” Keyshawn Davis said at today’s press conference. “It’s something in the water out here.”
In his previous fight at Scope Arena, Keyshawn Davis entered the ring surrounded by the Booker T. Washington High School marching band. It was a grand spectacle. So how in the world does Davis top November?
“Whether I do a band walk out, or I walk out to an artist or I just walk out to my brothers, it’s going to be an amazing event because we are amazing people out here,” Keyshawn Davis said. “The people around the world just need to know that.”
As his upcoming opponent, Keyshawn Davis knows what he’s up against.
“This guy can really fight, he said. “Definitely my best opponent on paper. It’s going to be even better if I get that knockout.”
In the 10-round lightweight co-feature, Cleveland’s Abdullah Mason faces the most recognizable name of his career in upset-minded Namibian puncher Jeremia Nakathila.
Undercard action includes Keyshawn Davis’ older brother, Kelvin Davis (15-0, 8 KOs), in a 10-rounder at junior welterweight, while his younger brother, Keon Davis (2-0, 1 KO), sees action in a six-rounder at welterweight. Together, the Davis Brothers are known as DB3.
Middleweight contender Troy Isley (14-0, 5 KOs), Keyshawn Davis’ Olympic teammate and a native of Alexandria in northern Virginia, hopes to continue his world title march in a 10-rounder against an opponent to be named.
