At just 25 years old, Keyshawn Davis is already making waves in the boxing world. With a promising career ahead, he’s quickly become a fan favorite, drawing admiration from figures like Floyd “Money” Mayweather and WBC World Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson. With a record of 12-0 and an 8 KO, while Keyshawn Davis is known for his skill in the ring, what sets him apart is his strong bond with the Newark native, who he considers as his “brother.”

However, since both are in the same weight category, speculations about both of them facing each other in the boxing ring at some point of time in their careers are rife. Amidst headlines and comments regarding the same, Davis recently opened up about their relationship and why a fight between them is out of the question.

Keyshawn Davis on Shakur Stevenson: A Bond Beyond Boxing

Not very long ago, the official Instagram account of Ring Magazine shared a post with a caption that read, “He was there for me with my worst times.” Keyshawn Davis shared with The Ring why he would never fight Shakur Stevenson. The conversation started with a direct question: “Why he’s like family and he’s like fighting a blood brother?”

Davis wasted no time in shutting down any possibility. He revealed, “I mean it’s just this weekend, he and his entire family were over at my house … eating together at the crib.” And to further make his statement clear, he said, “I’m never ever ever ever fighting Shakur. You know what I’m saying. It just doesn’t feel right.”

The bond between them is rooted in their shared experiences growing up in Virginia, but what really solidified their brotherhood was a dark period in Keyshawn Davis’ life when he struggled with depression. “The moment when I was like, yeah Shakur, I genuinely actually got real love for you was when I was going through my deep depression times even before I was going into the mental home,” Davis revealed that before seeking professional help, he had begun pulling away from his family, including his real brother. And the reason? He clarified it’s because “He was my little brother”. Since then he started confiding in Stevenson about his emotional turmoil.

Keyshawn Davis expressed deep gratitude for Shakur Stevenson’s unwavering support. In an emotional statement, Keyshawn revealed, “You know, like he calling me in there, checking up on me… I get out of the mental home, he pulling up on me, making sure I’m straight, making sure I get back to the gym, making sure I could do what I love.” 

This vulnerability and unwavering support from Shakur Stevenson proved to be a turning point for Keyshawn Davis. And this is why Davis has no intention of ever stepping into the ring against Stevenson. He stated, “He was there for me with my worst times. I can  never forget that.” However, with Shakur out of the picture now, who will ‘The Businessman’ fight next?

The Future of Keyshawn Davis

After a dominant knockout victory over Gustavo Lemos in November, the Olympic silver medalist is preparing for a shot at the WBO world lightweight title. His opponent? Denys Berinchyk in February at Madison Square Garden Theater, New York. But Davis isn’t stopping there. He has set his sights on one of the biggest names in the division: Gervonta “Tank” Davis. However, when it came to the Baltimore he made himself clear when he posted, “He’s not even worth mentioning,” in a now deleted X post.

Moreover, in a recent interview, Keyshawn reflected on sparring with Tank when he was just 16 years old, long before he turned professional. At that time, Davis was cautious about sparring with top fighters like George Kambosos and Teofimo Lopez to avoid revealing too much of his style. But now, with the experience and confidence he’s gained, Davis feels ready for the challenge.

While some critics argue that a fight with Tank Davis isn’t realistic just yet—especially given Tank’s potential retirement—the future remains wide open. If Davis continues his impressive streak of wins, a showdown between the Davis’ could become a reality. Do you think the 25-year-old is ready for a fight with Tank? Do share your thoughts below!