Keyshawn Davis To Headline Nov. 8 Homecoming In Norfolk, Virginia
Keyshawn Davis will head home for his first headlining act.
The Ring has confirmed that hard plans are in place for Davis to top a Nov. 8 show on an ESPN platform. The event will take place at Scope Arena in Davis’ hometown of Norfolk, Virginia.
Davis stated on X that Gustavo Lemos is the likely opponent, confirming a report from ESPN.com’s Mike Coppinger.
“Homecoming or not, I give the fans great fights,” Davis posted. “I stand on that!”
Homecoming or NOT, I give the fans great fights I Stand On That! #davisVSlemos
— Keyshawn Davis (@KeyshawnDavis8) August 23, 2024
The lightweight fight will mark the third ring appearance on the year for Davis (11-0, 7 knockouts), 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 to Davis, akin 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-fueled Aug. 1989 win over Jose Luis Ramirez to avenge his controversial first career defeat. His final fight there was a repeat win over James ‘Buddy’ McGirt to defend his lineal and WBC welterweight championship in Oct. 1994.
Hall of Fame former Ring/lineal heavyweight champion Larry Holmes had the final fight of his legendary career at Scope Arena. It came in a July 2002 decision win over 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 No. 7-rated lightweight served in supporting capacity to longtime friend and three-division titlist Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs).
Five months prior, he battered faded former two-division titlist Jose Pedraza (29-6-1, 14 KOs). That bout took place on Top Rank’s pre-Super Bowl card in Las Vegas.
‘The Businessman’ now commands the top spot as he makes his run towards a lightweight title.
He will endure his toughest test to date, at least on paper.
Argentina’s Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs) was unlucky to have suffered his lone defeat in his most recent fight.
The 28-year-old from Argentina provided fits for Brooklyn’s Richardson Hitchins, who claimed an unpopular decision in their April 6 DAZN main event in Las Vegas. Most viewers and those in attendance felt Lemos deserved the nod in their IBF 140-pound title eliminator.
Lemos will fight stateside for the second straight time. His proposed bout versus Davis will mark a return to lightweight, assuming he can safely make the weight.
It wasn’t the case in a planned stay-busy fight gone awry last summer. Lemos—the IBF lightweight mandatory at the time—was due to face countryman Javier Jose Clavero last Aug. 18 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 mark 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 the mandatory challenger after his March 2022 knockout win over Wales’ Lee Selby.
The Ring has learned of three potential 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, roughly 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 telecast, WBO welterweight titlist Brian Norman Jr. (26-0, 20 KOs) is in line to land the co-feature slot.
Norman is currently in talks—at least through social media—for a welterweight unification bout versus IBF titlist Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs). It comes across more as posturing, though Ennis needs a better option than his current business. The Ring’s No. 1-rated welterweight was ordered to face mandatory challenger Karen Chukhadzhian in an unnecessary rematch to his Jan. 2023 shutout win.
It could work to Norman’s advantage, though it will require an offer likely beyond fair market value to secure the fight. The Ring’s No. 5-rated welterweight was recently upgraded to full WBO titleholder. He won an interim version of the belt in a May 18 tenth-round knockout of Giovani Santillan.
Potential opponents for Norman were not made available to The Ring as this goes to publication.
The show is also rumored to feature top lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason (15-0, 13 KOs). It would 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 have ended in knockouts, none longer than four rounds.
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