Sean Anderson spoke to a Virginia star on the cusp of world glory and found out about Keyshawn Davis’ family motivations.
WHEN I attempted to contact leading lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis last week, the call was initially declined. Shortly afterwards, a WhatsApp message arrived from the 25-year-old Norfolk, Virginia native.
It came from the display name “The Businessman” and read “I’m out with my mother. Will call you later.”
This, in many ways, encapsulates Davis perfectly. Ever since I first spoke with him before the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics in 2021, one thing has been abundantly clear, family comes first. That principle extends to his career as well.
Davis’s two brothers, Kelvin and Keon, are undefeated professional boxers who frequently feature on his undercards. Together, the trio are branded as ‘DB3,’ and Davis never misses an opportunity to highlight their careers. He is fully aware he has the biggest platform to promote their success.
Adding to the family theme, his sister recently performed the US national anthem at his Norfolk homecoming, where Davis scored an emphatic second-round knockout of Gustavo Daniel Lemos.
When Davis calls back, we naturally begin our conversation there. Headlining his first show, especially on home turf, came with its own challenges for the Olympic silver medallist.
“Leading up to the fight, it was so stressful. My first main event and homecoming, two major things all at once. I had to promote my own event and so on. It all played out pretty well, though. I didn’t show I was stressed or worried,” he said.
He certainly didn’t. Davis appeared to be his typically excitable self as the MC announced his name.
“There was added pressure. My two brothers had already fought and won. It was left to me to close the show. I had to deliver on the performance I promised.”
Along with the weight of the event, Davis faced another unexpected burden. Lemos failed to make the lightweight limit, coming in a staggering six pounds overweight. He effectively entered the ring as a super-welterweight, but Davis remained unperturbed.
“I was saying all week I’d give an amazing performance, and that’s exactly what happened. The weight didn’t change my plan at all,” Davis explained.
“In fact, Lemos threw a big shot in the first round. I put my hand up to block it and didn’t feel anything. If I had, I might have been cautious, but I was fine. I even nodded to my brothers at ringside to let them know.”
Davis dropped Lemos, a fighter who had never before hit the canvas, three times in the second round before the referee stepped in. The only previous blemish on Lemos’s record was a disputed decision loss to Richardson Hitchins. In the eyes of many, this was a breakout performance. It made it a Davis treble on the night and they certainly revelled in the success.
“The afterparty was crazy,” Davis recalled. “People were kicking down the doors. We made a hell of a lot of money, let me just say that. I’m called ‘The Businessman’ because I handle business in the ring, but don’t worry, I handle it outside the ring, too.”
There is now a boxing buzz across the region, reminiscent of the days when another boxer native to Norfolk packed out the Scope Arena, the legendary Pernell Whitaker. Davis acknowledges he still has a long way to go to match the accomplishments of the three-weight world champion.
“Pernell Whitaker was the greatest to come out of this city. DB3 is trying to live up to his magnitude. He sold out the Scope, and now we’re following behind him, trying to do what he did and take it even further.”
The parallels between Davis and Whitaker go beyond their Norfolk roots. If Davis secures a world lightweight title before his birthday in late February, he will match ‘Sweet Pea,’ who also claimed his first title at age 25 in the same division. Davis already has his sights set on his next step.
“The first name on the list is Denis Berinchyk, the WBO world champion. We want him in early 2025. He’s a great fighter, from Ukraine, friends with [Vasily] Lomachenko and [Oleksandr] Usyk. People from Ukraine don’t back down.
“I think it would be a fight that fans would love to see. It certainly wouldn’t be boring, but I’d get it done in spectacular fashion.”
In the lead-up to the Lemos fight, social media exchanges between Davis and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis hinted at a matchup between the two. Davis certainly didn’t shy away from the possibility.
“Tank is the golden boy at the moment. If he sends me a contract, I’m not turning it down. I think if he wants a challenge, he’ll make it happen.
“I believe it’ll happen eventually. I’m not an up-and-comer anymore, I’m a young star. It depends on how low he goes financially.
“Whatever the deal, I know I’ll win, and then I’ll be the top dog. He might not offer me a tremendous amount of money, but as long as he doesn’t completely disrespect me financially, I’ll take it.”
As our call comes to a close, Davis extends his warm wishes to my two sons for the holiday season, before once again referring to his own family collectively when discussing his plans for Christmas and the New Year.
“My family is coming to Vegas, and we’re going to have a great Christmas. Then 2025 is going to be a huge year for DB3. Those performances have put Keyshawn, Keon and Kelvin Davis on a whole new level. It’s time for a world title.”
Even as he stands on the brink of a world title, Davis certainly never loses sight of the people who matter most to him. His family are the focus of everything he does, both inside and outside the ring.
