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‘And the new WBO lightweight champion… Keyshawn Davis!’ That’s what the Norfolk native heard tonight after delivering a stunning fourth-round knockout against Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk. With the WBO title now in his possession, ‘The Businessman’ finds himself at the doorstep of several high-profile matchups—including a potential unification showdown with WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, a fight he has long dreamed of.
But the question remains, who will Keyshawn Davis face next? The 25-year-old has no shortage of rivalries in and around his division, and with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s potential involvement, almost any fight now seems possible. Here are three opponents we believe make the most sense for Davis’ next move!
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Gervonta Davis
Gervonta Davis is the most obvious choice for Keyshawn Davis. Not only is ‘Tank’ the WBA lightweight champion, but he’s also one of the biggest names in boxing. A fight between them wouldn’t just be a blockbuster event—it would also be a unification bout, bringing the winner one step closer to undisputed status.
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Beyond the titles, there’s already bad blood between them. The two have traded words on social media multiple times, with Keyshawn openly expressing his eagerness to fight ‘Tank.’ However, Gervonta Davis has been dismissive, believing ‘The Businessman’ hasn’t yet earned the right to share the ring with him.
Now, with Keyshawn holding the WBO title, the dynamics have shifted. But whether ‘Tank’ sees it that way remains to be seen.
Shakur Stevenson
Much like Gervonta Davis, Shakur Stevenson is a dominant force in the lightweight division. While Stevenson may not command the same level of star power as ‘Tank,’ a fight between him and his close friend Keyshawn Davis would still draw thousands of fans to arenas and TV screens. Adding to the intrigue, Stevenson holds the WBC lightweight title, making a potential unification bout all the more enticing.
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via Getty
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 12: Shakur Stevenson celebrates after defeating Toka Kahn-Clary at the MGM Grand Conference Center on December 12, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
However, the main obstacle is their friendship. Both Stevenson and Davis have openly stated that they have no interest in fighting each other due to their long-standing bond. That said, in a recent interview, Davis admitted that a $100 million payday might be enough to change his perspective on the matchup. If Stevenson and Davis remain unwilling to face off, one of them will eventually have to move up in weight.
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Teofimo Lopez
This next one is deeply personal for Keyshawn Davis. While his rivalry with Teofimo Lopez has been simmering for a while, it recently took an ugly turn after Davis was subjected to a racist incident. Before his fight against Denys Berinchyk, he received a package filled with bananas and watermelon—an offensive gesture laced with racist undertones.
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via Imago
December 8, 2022: TEOFIMO LOPEZ 17-1, 3KO smeets accredited press members and Social Media during one on one press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz at Madison Square Garden in New York, Lopez of Brooklyn will be sparing off againnt Sandor Martin 40-2 13ko s of Barcelona Spain on Saturday December 10 during a scheduled 10 round bout for WBO Internatiobnal And NABF Welterweight title and and WBC final Eliminator – ZUMAp140 20221208_zap_p140_001 Copyright: xBrianxBranchxPricex
Initially, Davis suspected Berinchyk was behind the act, but there was no concrete evidence linking him to it. However, the situation escalated when Teofimo Lopez reacted to the news by laughing, further intensifying the tension between them. Now, their ongoing feud has only grown, making a potential grudge match between the two more enticing.
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For the fight to happen, Davis would need to move up to super lightweight. While that’s far from impossible, there’s still no official word on his next move. If he chooses not to fight Shakur Stevenson, a clash with Lopez could be the perfect next step.
That said, Davis’ next opponent remains uncertain, but these three matchups seem the most logical for the newly crowned WBO lightweight champion. Who would you like to see Keyshawn Davis face next?
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Debate
Could a $100 million payday make Keyshawn Davis and Shakur Stevenson put friendship aside for a fight?
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Could a $100 million payday make Keyshawn Davis and Shakur Stevenson put friendship aside for a fight?
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