Brother Steps In as Headliner After Keyshawn Davis Fight Falls Apart in Virginia

Keyshawn Davis was supposed to be celebrating a milestone in his career this weekend. The undefeated lightweight star was set to make the first defense of his world title in front of a hometown crowd in Norfolk, Virginia. Instead, the 25-year-old finds himself stripped of his championship, his fight scrapped, and his reputation under heavy scrutiny.

The scheduled bout between Davis and Edwin De Los Santos, which was set for Saturday night, was officially canceled after Davis failed to make the 135-pound lightweight limit. In fact, he missed the mark by more than four pounds—a margin so wide that the event’s legitimacy and fairness came under immediate question.

Despite efforts from both camps to salvage the fight, promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, who represents De Los Santos, ultimately pulled the plug. The decision, he said, was based solely on protecting his fighter from a potentially dangerous situation.

“I’ve been in this sport for more than 30 years,” Lewkowicz said. “And I can tell when someone had no intention of making weight. Davis was never training to fight at 135. He came in as if this was a junior welterweight bout.”

The Fall of the Champ—Before the Bell

Keyshawn Davis entered fight week undefeated at 13-0, with 9 knockouts and a growing fanbase that was eager to see his first title defense. His February win over Denys Berinchyk had established him as one of the top young stars in boxing’s lightweight division. But when he stepped onto the scale on Friday, it was clear something had gone very wrong.

Davis came in more than four pounds over the limit—an amount that isn’t a small miscalculation, but a full weight class above the contracted limit. Immediately, his lightweight belt was stripped. What should have been a routine weigh-in turned into a moment of reckoning.

“I stayed up late trying to get the weight off,” Davis admitted in a post-weigh-in interview with Top Rank’s Crystina Poncher. “I woke up early and tried again, but I just outgrew the weight. That’s the truth.”

It was a frank confession that confirmed what many had speculated for months: that Davis was ready to move up to 140 pounds. But doing so on the eve of a title defense—and leaving his opponent in the lurch—left a sour taste.

De Los Santos Left Empty-Handed—Again

For Edwin De Los Santos, the cancellation wasn’t just disappointing—it was another cruel twist in his pursuit of a world title.

The 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic, now 16-2 with 14 knockouts, had last fought in November 2023, when he lost a decision to Shakur Stevenson in a vacant title fight. Since then, he had remained on the sidelines, waiting for another opportunity. The matchup against Davis was supposed to be that second chance—a shot at redemption, glory, and a world championship.

Instead, he was forced to watch it all slip away again, this time because of his opponent’s failure to make weight.

“He wanted to fight. He was ready,” Lewkowicz said of his fighter. “But I told him no. I am his promoter, and I will not risk his health for money.”

Lewkowicz referenced recent examples of similar situations gone wrong, most notably Ryan Garcia’s April 2024 bout against Devin Haney. Garcia missed weight by several pounds and still fought—and dominated—a weight-drained Haney in a performance later clouded by a failed drug test. That, Lewkowicz said, is exactly the scenario he was determined to avoid.

“Haney made the mistake of accepting the fight anyway,” he said. “He paid the price physically and mentally. I’m not going to let that happen to my fighter. Money doesn’t buy health.”

A New Main Event Emerges

With the cancellation of the main event, Top Rank was forced to reshuffle the card. Stepping into the spotlight is Keyshawn’s older brother, Kelvin Davis. His scheduled undercard bout against Nahir Albright will now serve as the night’s headliner.

Kelvin Davis, who fights in the junior welterweight division, was already gaining attention in his own right. While the spotlight shift wasn’t planned, it offers Kelvin a chance to make a name for himself—though under less-than-ideal circumstances.

The show, as they say, must go on. But for many fans who bought tickets to see Keyshawn Davis defend his title in his hometown, the disappointment is palpable.

The Bigger Picture: Was This the Plan All Along?

What’s perhaps most concerning—and what has fueled growing backlash—is the perception that Davis may have planned this outcome all along.

In his comments after missing weight, Davis was already talking about future fights at 140 pounds. He mentioned fellow rising star Abdullah Mason as a potential next opponent—comments that struck many as oddly timed, given the chaos still unfolding around the scrapped De Los Santos bout.

Even Top Rank’s own chairman, Bob Arum, seemed to cast doubt on Davis’ intentions, telling boxing reporter Dan Rafael: “He never really tried to make 135.”

Lewkowicz took it a step further, suggesting Davis may have intentionally come in heavy, hoping De Los Santos would still take the fight under new terms. In that scenario, Davis would have had a clear size and strength advantage.

“It was a negotiation tactic, just like Ryan Garcia did,” Lewkowicz said. “Come in heavy, hold the belt hostage, and force the opponent to agree or lose the paycheck. I wasn’t going to let that happen.”

What Happens Next?

For Keyshawn Davis, the path forward is clear—though a bit more turbulent than expected. He will likely move up to 140 pounds permanently, a transition that had long seemed inevitable. He’s still considered one of boxing’s brightest prospects, but the way this event unfolded could damage his standing with fans and fighters alike.

For Edwin De Los Santos, the heartbreak continues. He did everything right—made weight, trained hard, and showed up ready to fight. Now, all he can do is wait and hope that his next opportunity isn’t taken from him again.

And for the boxing world, this incident serves as another cautionary tale. Weight classes exist for a reason. Cutting corners—whether deliberate or not—has consequences. Fighters put their health on the line every time they step into the ring, and when one doesn’t hold up their end of the contract, everyone loses.

Souce: Keyshawn Davis-Edwin De Los Santos called off by promoter

Final Thoughts

The cancellation of the Keyshawn Davis vs. Edwin De Los Santos fight is more than just a logistical headache—it’s a case study in professionalism, integrity, and the business side of boxing. Davis may recover and go on to achieve great things at 140 pounds. De Los Santos may yet get his long-awaited title shot.

But for now, both men are left with disappointment: one for missing a chance to defend his title in front of hometown fans, and the other for being denied the opportunity to earn what he’s worked so hard for.

And for boxing fans, this weekend’s card in Norfolk will be remembered not for the action inside the ring—but for what didn’t happen.
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