In a stunning blow to Norfolk boxing fans, Keyshawn Davis’s WBO lightweight title defense against Edwin De Los Santos, scheduled for tonight at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, has been canceled.
The reason? Davis missed weight by a staggering 4.3 pounds, coming in at 139.3 pounds against the 135-pound limit. As a result, he was stripped his WBO lightweight title.
This marks a bitter disappointment for Davis’s homecoming fight, which was set to be Norfolk’s first world title fight in over 30 years.
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WTKR 3 reported that before the cancellation was announced Friday, Davis said, “I outgrew the weight.” He added, “I’ve been making this weight for over four years now. I woke up early this morning trying to make the weight.”
The weight miss ignited a firestorm of criticism, with fans and commentators slamming Davis for what many are calling an unprofessional lapse. On social media, particularly X, there was a sense of frustration, with one user calling American boxing a “joke.” Davis was accused of joining a trend of “privileged fighters” dodging accountability.
Observers noted Davis appeared far from the typical dehydrated fighter at the weigh-in, suggesting a lack of serious effort to make weight. The 25-year-old Olympian’s failure to meet the mark has cost him not only his title but also the chance to shine in front of a hometown crowd.
For Norfolk, the cancellation is a gut punch. The city, which hasn’t hosted a world title fight in over three decades, was buzzing with excitement for Davis’s first title defense. Fans had hoped to see the local star cement his legacy in a packed Scope Arena.
Initially, there was speculation that a financial agreement might salvage the fight, but ultimately the decision was made to pull the plug.
But, the show will go on with a revised card. Undefeated lightweight prospect Abdullah Mason steps into the main event spotlight against Jeremia Nakathila, while Kelvin Davis, Keyshawn’s brother, faces Nahir Albright in what is now a “co-feature” event.
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