Welcome to the big-time Keyshawn Davis.
The 2020 US Olympic silver medalist stopped former two-division world champion, Jose Pedraza in the sixth-round of their scheduled 10-round co-feature bout on ESPN.
The contest served as the co-feature to Teofimo Lopez-Jamaine Ortiz, which proved to be a lot less action-packed. After the impressive win for Davis, the undefeated lightweight offered a stern challenge.
“Teofimo been doing a lot of talking lately, I will go up to 140 [lbs] and fight Teofimo, what’s up?” said Davis to ESPN. “Teofimo, you already know how I am coming, you and your father. So let’s set it up. I will come straight to 140 [lbs].”
Viewed as a step-up in competition, it looked to be a potential birth of a star. Referee Thomas Taylor stopped Pedraza from taking any more damage at 1:09 of the sixth. Davis landed 54 per cent of his power punches, and outlanded Pedraza in terms of shots at 139 punches landed out of 301 to Pedraza’s 46 of 236.
Davis also welcomed a fight with Emanuel Navarrete who will box Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight world title. Davis is certain the Mexican wins that and Davis had glowing praise for the three-division world champion.
“If you are scared Teofimo, [Emanuel] Navarrete is a hell of a fighter,” said Davis. “My hat’s off to Navarrete. It would be an honor to get in the ring with you at 135 [lbs] after he captures his WBO title.
“Throughout this whole training camp I have been saying I am the best at 135 [lbs]…”
Davis improved to 10-0 (7 KOs). Davis is only 24-years-old while Pedraza, with the loss, is now 29-6-1 (14 KOs) and aged 34.
