Unbeaten American believes he should be next in line if Shakur Stevenson retires
WBC lightweight champion, Shakur Stevenson, recently announced a shock retirement following frustrations at the inability to make fights with his 135lb rivals and, as a result of the abuse he received for his most recent performance, is Top Rank stablemate, Keyshawn Davis, has now admitted he’s hoping to fill Stevenson’s boots.
At just 26-years-old, Shakur Stevenson may have laced up the gloves for the final time, surprisingly calling time on his career after becoming a three-division world champion against Edwin De Los Santos last November, in a display that was heavily criticised and claimed an unwanted punch stats record.
Meanwhile, 24-year-old Virginian sensation, Keyshawn Davis, has taken to the professional ranks like a duck to water, carrying the weighty pressure of his outstanding amateur pedigree and proving that his high expectations are of that nature for a reason, winning his first nine fights and securing six knockouts.
In an interview with Boxing Social, the 2020 Olympic silver medallist outlined his plans to establish himself as an elite lightweight in his next fight, as well as his future intentions of plugging up the void left by Stevenson. However
“Unfortunately, Shakur has retired and I believe that he is definitely standing on that. Top Rank only have one other [fighter] at 135lbs to really push and promote to become that next world champion and superstar, so it’s unfortunate for Shakur but I am the next in line.
“I’m pretty sure that Top Rank is going to do a fantastic job, keep promoting me how they have been promoting me and put me at that superstar status. It’s up to me to perform in the ring, but after I perform in the ring, for sure I am definitely going to be [considered] one of the elites at 135.”
Keyshawn Davis takes on former super-featherweight and lightweight champion, Jose Pedraza, on the undercard of Teofimo Lopez’s match-up with Jamaine Ortiz, which goes ahead on Thursday 8th February to kickstart Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas.