Top Rank needs another option for Keyshawn Davis’s first defense of his WBO lightweight title on June 7th in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. Their original target, Edwin De Los Santos, turned down the offer.
It’s unclear if Top Rank will bump up the financial offer to De Los Santos (16-2, 14 KOs) or move on towards another opponent. The offer is rumored to be $200,000.
SEARCH FOR A FOE
Keyshawn had talked about wanting to fight Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz next after capturing the WBO 135-lb on February 14th against Denys Berinchyk. He’s since been quiet about the fight against Pitbull, which means there was no interest from the popular Mexican fighter.
Top Rank can always bring in #1 WBO Raymond Muratalla or #1 WBC Andy Cruz for Keyshawn’s fight on June 7th, but they’ll unlikely do that. They’re trying their hardest to turn Keyshawn into a superstar, and matching him against Andy Cruz or Muratalla could ruin their goals. Keyshawn is a good fighter, but he’s been hurt by weaker fighters than Muratalla, and he’s already lost four times against Cruz in the amateurs. He openly doesn’t want any part of fighting the Cuban 2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz. Top Rank doesn’t want to see him lose. Davis is being matched carefully by them. De Los Santos hasn’t fought in two years since his loss to Shakur Stevenson on November 16th, 2023. It’s understandable why he would be hesitant to accept less than what he feels he’s worth going up against a fighter like Keyshawn, who looks massive for a lightweight, and would be fighting in his hometown.
Coming off a long two-year layoff, fighting what is essentially a welterweight, and having a large pro-Davis crowd would put De Los Santos in a near-unwinnable situation. You can’t blame him for rejecting the offer made to him. He’d be hurting his marketability if he lost to Keyshawn. Fans wouldn’t care that he was fighting a much bigger guy in his hometown coming off a two-year layoff. In Davis’s fight on November 8th last year against Gustavo Lemos at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, he drew a crowd of 10,000. Keyshawn has got to be making good money from that gate.
PLAN B NEEDED
Tevin Farmer would be a good option for Keyshawn to fight on June 7th, but he might be a little too tough because he can punch. The shots that Farmer hit William Zepeda with in their rematch would be dangerous for Keyshawn to take.
“Top Rank seeks a new rival for Keyshawn Davis on June 7 in Norfolk, Virginia, after Edwin de los Santos, with whom they already had a verbal agreement, declined the last economic offer,” said Salvador Rodriguez on X.
