Keyshawn Davis can no longer call himself a world champion as he missed weight for his scheduled fight with Edwin De Los Santos on June 7th.
No longer competing against De Los Santos, Davis was stripped of his WBO World Lightweight title after coming in 4.3 lbs over the 135 lbs weight limit.
The pair were scheduled to fight in Norfolk in what was set to be a homecoming occasion for ‘The Businessman’. However, the fighter will not get the opportunity to defend his world title for the first time since Davis knocked out Denys Berinchyk.
Davis has confirmed that he will no longer compete in the lightweight division, planning to move up to 140 lbs for his next fight. With this in mind, here are some potential opponents for Davis as he looks to bounce back from his weigh-in disaster.
Arnold Barboza Jr.
Missing weight by a wide margin for your first world title defense is by no means a good look. This could mean that Davis has to once again earn a world title opportunity, as opposed to being awarded one immediately.
One option for a contender matchup could be Arnold Barboza Jr.
Just one month removed from his loss to Teofimo Lopez on a disappointing card at Times Square, the 32-1 fighter could be a good test for Davis.
A narrow victory over Jack Catterall in February 2025 shows that Barboza Jr. is a top fighter in the division, despite his failed world title attempt against Lopez.
Victory against Barboza Jr. would show that Davis is worthy of a super lightweight title shot.
Teofimo Lopez
As a now-former world champion, Olympic medalist, and having an undefeated record, it is not unlikely that Davis goes straight into a title opportunity at 140 lbs.
The current WBO World Super Lightweight champion is the aforementioned Lopez. With a record of 21-1, and a reputation as being one of the top fighters in the sport today, a meeting between Lopez and Davis would be a high-scale fight.
As a bout has collapsed between Devin Haney and Lopez, ‘The Takeover’ may look for another high-profile name, as Davis fits the bill.
Facing Lopez would be a huge test for Davis, however, the world champion has targeted high-quality opposition in the likes of Gervonta Davis before.
As Lopez is looking for a title challenger, the WBO may look kindly towards their former lightweight champion.
The winner of Richardson Hitchins vs George Kambosos Jr.
Scheduled to fight on June 14th, 2025, Richardson Hitchins aims to defend his IBF World Super Lightweight title against George Kambosos Jr. in New York.
Kambosos Jr., who defeated Lopez, will be aiming to become a two-division champion, as Hitchins aims to improve his record to 20-0.
Should the winner of the bout not seek title unification or a rematch, Davis is a notable contender who could make for a big fight.
With Hitchins and Kambosos Jr. competing within a week of Davis’ scheduled bout, the timeline is well-aligned for a potential fight should ‘The Businessman’ not want a quick fight.
- READ MORE: Keyshawn Davis welcomes professional rematch with fighter who beat him at the Olympic Games
Dalton Smith
Should Davis wish to test the waters at 140 lbs against a fellow bright prospect, British fighter Dalton Smith (18-0) could be a viable option.
Smith is currently ranked as the number one WBC super lightweight contender, as well as being a top-10 fighter in the IBF and WBO rankings. This means that a win over Smith would establish Davis’ status in the division.
Considered to be one of British boxing’s brightest unbeaten prospects, Smith would be a notable name to add to the resume of Davis. However, it could be considered a risky fight for both young stars.