One of the most attractive prospects among boxing lightweight competitors has been looking for elite-level bouts since early 2023. But who will Virginia-born Keyshawn Davis face next?
Who is Keyshawn Davis?
Despite having only participated in seven fights in his professional boxing career, Keyshawn Davis (7-0.5 KOs) has been in the limelight since competing in fierce competition in 2022.
Davis has been involved in sports for most of his life.
“My brother (Kevin Davis) and I have played many sports. We were very athletic and the best at everything we did.” Davis said. “There was a boxing gym down the street that we could walk to, and our mother asked if we wanted to box, and of course, we said to her, ‘Yes.’ We go to the gym on the first day, sit down and watch, and then the next day we do boxing and non-stop.”
As an amateur, Davis won silver medals at the 2019 Pan American Games, the 2019 World Championships and the 2020 Summer Olympics, and after making his professional debut in February 2021, he has succeeded in staying as active as possible and has broken through the lightweight rankings by picking up seven straight wins in less than two years as a pro.
At the end of 2021 – four games in his professional career – we noticed Davis lurking in the shadows of his teammates. The likes of Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson are attracting attention, but this is about to change.
Davis passed the competition with ease and his dominance against Jose Zaragoza in December 2021, was the final straw. His promoter, Top Rank, delivered their boxer 4-0 in a match against Esteban Sanchez, which was 18-1 at the time.
Once again, Davis shines. The Virginia-born standout player demonstrated lightning-fast reflexes and precise strikes while knocking down opponents with deadly hits when needed.
The Norfolk, Virginia rep was sidelined by illness until September, but when he returned, the dominance continued – stopping Omar Tienda’s 10-year undefeated streak within five rounds.
Of course, many boxers can achieve a 7-0 record. But with Davis, the level of competition is significantly higher than that of his peers. And the style in which he wins these matches is phenomenal, having barely lost a round since turning pro.
And to cement his place as a real contender, he stopped Juan Carlos Burgos – a three-time world champion – with ease.
The editor-in-chief of Ring magazine said: “Keyshawn Davis’s eight rounds of goal practice are incredibly talented. He dominates a veteran who rarely shuts down. I think he’s the most promising player in the game right now and he’s put in quality rounds with solid boxers in all three of his games in 2022.”
Keyshawn Davis in 2023: What’s Next?
By now, it’s clear that Keyshawn Davis doesn’t want easy fights. He’s proven his worth, so the 23-year-old has consistently named some of the strongest boxers in light heavyweight.
Last week, the former Olympic boxer pointed towards Jeremiah Nakathila while saying he finished the bout with opponents at the bottom of the barrel.
“Jeremiah Nakathila, that’s the fight I want,” Davis told reporters. “His last game, he beat Miguel Berchelt. Tell Jeremiah Nakathila wassup; I want to fight him.”
If a Davis/Nakathila fight happens, Davis will be the bettor. Virginians may find betting on the new child risky so they will avoid risk by redeeming any available Viginia sportsbook promo code to cover your first bet, win or lose.
As this bout could happen in the future, boxing fans can expect a top bout on April 8 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Load up your sports betting accounts as ESPN’s Mike Coppinger has announced that Davis will put his impressive unbeaten streak against Emmanuel Tagoe.
Hailing from Ghana, Tagoe, 34, has not stopped playing since 2004 when he played against fellow Ghanaian, Lante Addy. He then went on an incredible 32 win streak to become the 135th contender.
Unfortunately for Tagoe, Ryan Garcia ended his long winning streak in April 2022. Can Davis go one step further than Garcia and break Tagoe’s chin?
