Keyshawn Davis proved his credentials when overcoming an experienced fighter in Gustavo Lemos. Davis stopped Lemos a day after he weighed six pounds over the limit.
The Seven Cities hero made an example of Lemos, who joined the growing and worrying list of boxers who intentionally scale over to gain an advantage. Davis took Lemos out in two rounds as the lightweight contender moved to 12-0 with an eighth knockout.
Lemos, who weighed 141.6 pounds for a 135-pound fight, had a noticeable size advantage on fight night. That’s despite Davis and his team putting a hydration weight stipulation on the Argentinian for the 24 hours that followed his misdemeanor.
However, Davis had too much for Lemos, who dropped to 29-2, 19 KOs. Davis knocked down Lemos three times in the second round, ending the contest with a world-class combination. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. dived in to stop the fight as Lemos tumbled to the mat.
Davis landed 76.5 percent of his power shots, while Lemos connected on only 13 punches. That told the story of the one-way traffic that brought the ‘757’ fans to their collective feet.
After the contest, Davis said he felt no difference in Lemos despite the sizeable weight differential.
“I had no hesitation. My team and I stuck to our guns. We said if he comes in too much over, we ain’t going to fight. But he followed his game plan, and he didn’t come too much over [at the weight check on Friday morning]. S we had a fight, and we had a spectacular night,” Davis said.
“I didn’t feel no power in him. I actually sat back on the ropes for one little second. But I let him throw his overhand that he loves, and I felt it on my shoulder. I looked at my brothers and gave them that face like, no, not enough [power to trouble me]. It ended in the second round, so maybe he didn’t really get a chance to hit me.”
In an interview with World Boxing News released during fight week, Davis named several possible future opponents. They included Gervonta Davis and Cuban star Andy Cruz. After his victory over Lemos, Davis has undoubtedly proved he’s on his way to significant headliners in the coming years.
Friday’s Top Rank event occurred before a sold-out crowd of 10,568 at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. This marked the biggest boxing event at the famed venue since local legend Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker fought Buddy McGirt in 1994. Thirty years later, Davis made his Scope debut in a spectacular victory.
By Phil Jay