Troy Isley-Tyler Howard upgraded to co-main in Norfolk

Troy Isley’s 10-round bout with Tyler “Hercules” Howard will instead be the co-main event on the bill headlined by Keyshawn Davis-Gustavo Lemos on November 8. Middleweights Isley and Howard clash at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia after the original co-feature, which had been due to involve the WBO welterweight champion Brian Norman Jr defending his title against Derrieck Cuevas, was postponed after Norman suffered a hand injury.

“Transformer” Isley is 13-0 (5 KOs), and comes from Alexandria, Virginia. He won the vacant NABO belt in his past fight, defeating his former amateur rival Javier Martinez on points over 10 rounds.

Isley, 26, turned professional in February 2021 having represented Team USA at the Tokyo Olympics.

Crossville, Tennessee’s 30-year-old Howard, 20-1 (11 KOs), last boxed in August 2023, when he won a majority decision over Raul Salomon.

On the undercard, the brother of the promising lightweight Keyshawn Davis, the junior welterweight Kelvin, 13-0 (7 KOs), boxes in an eight-rounder against 15-3 (10 KOs) Yeis Solano, and his younger brother Keon Davis makes his professional debut over four rounds at welterweight.

The unbeaten lightweight Abdullah Mason, 15-0 (13 KOs), fights over eight rounds against Yohan Vasquez (26-5, 21 KOs), and the 19-year-old prospect Robert Meriwether III (7-0, 3 KOs) faces Eric Howard (6-2, 1 KO) in a six round junior-contest. Finally, Virginia’s Austin Deanda (15-0, 10 KOs) and South Carolina’s DeAundre Pettus (12-2, 7 KOs) clash over eight-rounds at middleweight.