Keyshawn Davis annihilated Gustavo Lemos in front of an enthralled hometown crowd at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, dropping the Argentine fighter three times and stopping him in the second round of what was ostensibly a lightweight contest.
Lemos, 29-2 (19 KOs), appeared to make little to no effort to make the 135lbs limit, weighing in at a whopping 141.4lbs on Friday and entering the ring topping the scales at 155.4lbs. He tried to make that extra weight count from the opening bell, striding forward, throwing looping left hooks and crosses, and trying to land an early haymaker. Davis, however, used speed and movement to avoid the incoming blows, stiff jabs to the stomach to interrupt Lemos’ forward momentum and skillful footwork to shift position and fire counters from angles.
After three minutes of getting his timing and distance, Davis, 12-0 (8 KOs), came out with a renewed purpose in the second. A short right hand dropped Lemos for a brief count, a left hook put him down for a second time, and a combination to head and body, punctuated by a right hand to the face, sent him crashing to the canvas for the third time, bringing about the stoppage at 1 minute, 8 seconds of Round 2.
“I had no hesitation,” Davis said afterward, when asked whether he had considered not going ahead with the fight after Lemos weighed in so heavily. “Me and my team, we stuck to our guns and we gave you all a spectacular night. Next year – hey Norfolk – you’re going to have a world champion.”
The fight was officially an eliminator for the lightweight belt held by Denys Berinchyk, but Davis made it clear he already has his eyes on a bigger prize in the form of a namesake.
“Hey Gervonta,” he exclaimed. “Knock knock.”
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