Davis vs Lemos Kickoff Presser!
(September 6th) Keyshawn Davis is ready to put on a show for his city. The Norfolk native will take on Argentina's Gustavo Lemos in the 10-round lightweight main event at Scope Arena on Friday, Nov 8. It's the most significant boxing event at the storied venue since Norfolk legend Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker defended his welterweight crown against Buddy McGirt in October 1994.
The undercard will feature the other members of “DB3.” Keyshawn’s older brother, rising junior welterweight Kelvin “Night Night” Davis (13-0, 7 KOs), fights Yeis Solano (15-3, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Keyshawn’s younger brother, U.S. Olympic Trials champion Keon Davis, will make his pro debut in a four-round welterweight contest.
The Davis Brothers were joined on stage by Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, in addition to undefeated middleweight Troy Isley (13-0, 5 KOs), who will fight Tyler Howard (20-1, 11 KOs) in a 10-rounder.
Promoted by Top Rank, ticket information will be announced shortly.
This is what the fighters had to say at Thursday's press conference:
Keyshawn Davis
“This is an honor. I appreciate everyone for coming out. Top Rank is here and putting on this show for us, for the town, and for the 757. It’s going to be a Michael Jordan story on November 8.”
“This event is bigger than us. I want to reach as many people as I can with this event so that the people from this town know that you can make it from here. There are resources here. And we’re bringing resources here, like a gym that kids can go to. I want this event to reach many people. I want the Seven Cities to be on the map, so they can be like Atlanta, New York, or Chicago.”
“I hand-picked this opponent because I know he can fight. He’s a good fighter. But I’m a dangerous fighter. Just know that if you come with that, I’m going to come with that, too. Gustavo Lemos is going to try all that extra stuff, but ya’ll know how we rock out here. Norfolk is not going for any of that. I’m going to tone him right on down, and we are going to have a fun night on Friday, November 8."
Kelvin Davis
“This is truly a blessing. We definitely talked about this when we were kids. We dreamed about it. And it’s finally here. It hasn’t hit me yet. We’re really bringing it to Norfolk, 757. It hasn’t been done since 'Sweat Pea' Pernell Whitaker. And we’re trying to follow what he set for us. We’ve got his family out here supporting us. And his legacy will live out through us."
"'Sweat Pea' used to come to the amateur fights and watch us. He would watch the amateur talent. And he would give us a few pointers after our fights. He would tell us things to get better. That was a blessing to have a legend watch us fight as an amateur.”
"You can expect fireworks. We're fighting at home. And I'm really comfortable at home. So whoever comes in this territory is getting knocked out."
Keon Davis
“This is a great opportunity. It’s going to be a great night. I’m going to make my pro debut. I’m coming for the stoppage. I’m coming to knock somebody out.”
“I feel like this is the perfect time to turn pro. My brother is doing his first homecoming, and I feel like it would be perfect to turn pro on the same card as them. It’s going to be great.”
Troy Isley
“Coming into the pros, I kind of lost my confidence. So, being around these three and them telling me I’m good enough has helped so much. They told me I shouldn't doubt myself. So, being around them during the last three camps has helped a lot."
“It’s going to be a great show. Ya’ll are gonna want to tune in. All four of us are going to put on a show. Don’t miss out.”
Venue: Scope Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
Promoter: Bob Arum - Top Rank
Matchmaker: Brad Goodman
Media: ESPN+
Full Card
Lightweight
Keyshawn Davis VS10 Gustavo Daniel Lemos
WBO World Welterweight title
Brian Norman Jr. VS12 Derrieck Cuevas 27 1 1
Middleweight
Troy Isley VS10 Tyler Howard
Heavyweight
Efe Ajagba VS10 TBA
Lightweight
Abdullah Mason VS8 Yohan Vasquez
Middleweight
Austin Deanda VS8 DeAundre Pettus
Welterweight
Kelvin Davis VS8 Yeis Gabriel Solano
Keon Davis pro-debut VS4 TBA
Keyshawn Davis Returns Home To Face
Gustavo Lemos In Lightweight Main Event
At Scope Arena LIVE On ESPN+!
(September 4th) Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis is closing in on a world title shot, but first, he must defend his home turf. The lightweight contender and U.S. Olympic silver medalist will face Argentina-born puncher Gustavo Lemos in the 10-round main event on Friday, Nov. 8, at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
In the world championship co-feature, WBO welterweight king Brian Norman Jr. will defend his crown against Puerto Rican puncher Derrieck Cuevas.
The undercard will feature the other members of “DB3.” Keyshawn’s older brother, rising junior welterweight Kelvin “Night Night” Davis (13-0, 7 KOs), fights Yeis Solano (15-3, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Keyshawn’s younger brother, U.S. Olympic Trials champion Keon Davis, will make his pro debut in a four-round welterweight contest.
The entire Davis-Lemos card will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.
Promoted by Top Rank, ticket information will be announced shortly.
“As a young kid growing up in Norfolk, I dreamed of accomplishing enough to headline a card at Scope Arena one day. My boxing idol is the legendary Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker, and I want to pack that arena like he used to. He’s the greatest from my city, and I’m honored to continue that legacy,” Keyshawn Davis said. “I can’t wait to put on a spectacular show against a tough opponent in Gustavo Lemos. Everyone from the 757 will be in my corner.”
“Norfolk has been waiting for Keyshawn Davis to come home for years. This is going to be a great night of fights headlined by a real competitive main event,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Lemos is full of confidence, and Keyshawn will have to be in top form on November 8 at Scope Arena.”
Davis (11-0, 7 KOs) enters his homecoming celebration ranked No. 3 at lightweight by the WBO, IBF, and WBC. He earned those rankings with two devastating showings to begin the year, starting with February’s sixth-round TKO of former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza. Five months later, he thrilled the crowd at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, dominating Mexican puncher Miguel Madueño over 10 rounds. He now makes his headlining debut in the biggest boxing event Scope Arena has seen since Whitaker defended his welterweight crown against Buddy McGirt in October 1994.
Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs), from Buenos Aires, Argentina, returns to the lightweight ranks for the first time in over two years. He last fought at 135 pounds in March 2022, when he stopped British former world champion Lee Selby in five rounds in front of his hometown fans. Lemos returned to action in December 2023, starching Javier Jose Clavero in the opening round. That set the stage for his American debut in April. Lemos traveled to Las Vegas for an IBF junior welterweight world title eliminator and was on the short end of a 12-round decision to American standout Richardson Hitchins. While many experts believed Lemos deserved the nod, he now moves down five pounds to face another unbeaten American mega-talent.
Lemos said, “This is a big occasion for Keyshawn Davis, and I am coming to Norfolk to spoil the party. He picked the wrong guy. On November 8, he’ll find out the truth. He’s not on my level.”
Norman (26-0, 20 KOs) is boxing’s youngest male world champion, a native of Atlanta who turned pro in 2018 at the age of 17. The 23-year-old made his Top Rank debut in early 2023 and was unbeaten in four fights with the company before May’s showdown with Giovani Santillan. The heavily favored Santillan was fighting in front of his hometown fans in San Diego, and Norman pulled off the upset win via 10th-round knockout. He won the WBO interim world title with that stunner and was elevated to full champion in August.
Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs), the WBO No. 7 contender, enters his first world title fight riding a four-fight knockout streak that began in December 2022 with a second-round blitzing of Esneiker Correa. He has punched his passport for his last three fights, which took place in Panama in 2023. Last December, Cuevas knocked down Marlon Aguas in the fifth round en route to a sixth-round TKO triumph.
The undercard is also scheduled to include the following young talents:
Rising lightweight sensation Abdullah Mason (15-0, 13 KOs) looks to take the next step against Dominican-born puncher Yohan Vasquez (26-5, 21 KOs) in an eight-rounder. The 20-year-old Cleveland native is 4-0 with four knockouts this year, all in four rounds or less.
Keyshawn’s Olympic teammate, middleweight contender, and Washington, D.C. native Troy “The Transformer” Isley (13-0, 5 KOs) returns to his home region roots in a 10-rounder against Tyler “Hercules” Howard (20-1, 11 KOs). Isley picked up the NABO title in June with a unanimous decision over then-unbeaten brawler Javier Martinez.
Middleweight prospect Austin DeAnda (14-0, 10 KOs), who hails from Amherst, Virginia, will take on DeAundre Pettus (11-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
About SevenVenues
The City of Norfolk’s SevenVenues serves to link Norfolk’s residents, visitors and tourists to Norfolk’s rich cultural arts and entertainment community. Besides providing entertainment services, SevenVenues is also responsible for the maintenance, repair, management and operation of the City’s seven public assembly facilities which include: Scope Arena, Chrysler Hall, the Attucks Theatre, the Wells Theatre, Harrison Opera House, Harbor Park, and Open Air Events. To learn more, visit SevenVenues.com.
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Innovation has been the standard at Top Rank since it was established in 1966 by Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. The boxing industry’s leading promotional company, Top Rank has shaped, developed, and promoted the careers of top international pay-per-view superstars and Hall of Famers, including Muhammad Ali, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Aaron Pryor, Alexis Arguello, Oscar De La Hoya, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Miguel Cotto, Erik Morales, Terence Crawford, and Vasiliy Lomachenko.
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