Keyshawn Davis feels he is ready for a shot at a world title after delivering a statement win over Gustavo Lemos.
Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) made light work of Lemos who missed the weight by more than six pounds and carried a considerable size advantage on the night.
Davis, fighting in front of a feverish crowd in his hometown of Norfolk, Viginia, knocked down Lemos three times in the second round before the referee stopped the fight after a brutal left-hook, right-hand combination sent the Argentine to the mat for a final time.
Keyshawn Davis proved too strong for his opponent (credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Keyshawn Davis dominated Gustavo Lemos (credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
Keyshawn Davis celebrates his win (credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank)
“I had no hesitation. Me and my team, we stuck to our guns,” said Davis. “We said if he comes in too much over (at the weight check on Friday morning) we ain’t gonna fight.
“But he followed his game plan, and he didn’t come too much over, so we had a fight and we gave a spectacular night.
“I didn’t feel no power in him. I actually sat back on the ropes one little second, and I let him throw his overhand that he loves and I felt it on my shoulder. And I looked at my brothers and gave them that face like, ‘no, not enough (power)’. It ended in the second round so maybe he didn’t really get a chance to hit me.”
Davis went on to call out lightweight champions Gervonta Davis and Denys Berinchyk, and wants a world title fight next.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Keyshawn Davis says he wants a world title fight next and called out Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis after he knocked out Gustavo Lemos in the second round
Meanwhile, middleweight Austin Deanda edged DeAundre Pettus in an eight-round unanimous decision by scores of 77-75 2x and 78-74, in a match that included an impromptu haircut for Deanda.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Austin Deanda’s corner took matters into their own hands and gave their fighter a haircut during his contest against DeAundre Pettus
Elsewhere on the card, lightweight Abdullah Mason (16-0, 14 KOs) survived a pair of first-round knockdowns to knock out Yohan Vasquez in the second round.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
It was an action-packed opening round between Abdullah Mason and Yohan Vasquez as both fighters hit the deck.