NORFOLK, Va. (Sept. 4, 2024) — Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis is closing in on a world title shot, but first, he must defend his home turf. The lightweight contender and U.S. Olympic silver medalist will face Argentina-born puncher Gustavo Lemos in the 10-round main event on Friday, Nov. 8, at Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
In the world championship co-feature, WBO welterweight king Brian Norman Jr. will defend his crown against Puerto Rican puncher Derrieck Cuevas.
The undercard will feature the other members of “DB3.” Keyshawn’s older brother, rising junior welterweight Kelvin “Night Night” Davis (13-0, 7 KOs), fights Yeis Solano (15-3, 10 KOs) in an eight-rounder. Keyshawn’s younger brother, U.S. Olympic Trials champion Keon Davis, will make his pro debut in a four-round welterweight contest.
The entire Davis-Lemos card will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+.
Promoted by Top Rank, ticket information will be announced shortly.
“As a young kid growing up in Norfolk, I dreamed of accomplishing enough to headline a card at Scope Arena one day. My boxing idol is the legendary Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker, and I want to pack that arena like he used to. He’s the greatest from my city, and I’m honored to continue that legacy,” Keyshawn Davis said. “I can’t wait to put on a spectacular show against a tough opponent in Gustavo Lemos. Everyone from the 757 will be in my corner.”
“Norfolk has been waiting for Keyshawn Davis to come home for years. This is going to be a great night of fights headlined by a real competitive main event,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Lemos is full of confidence, and Keyshawn will have to be in top form on November 8 at Scope Arena.”
Davis (11-0, 7 KOs) enters his homecoming celebration ranked No. 3 at lightweight by the WBO, IBF, and WBC. He earned those rankings with two devastating showings to begin the year, starting with February’s sixth-round TKO of former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza. Five months later, he thrilled the crowd at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, dominating Mexican puncher Miguel Madueño over 10 rounds. He now makes his headlining debut in the biggest boxing event Scope Arena has seen since Whitaker defended his welterweight crown against Buddy McGirt in October 1994.
Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs), from Buenos Aires, Argentina, returns to the lightweight ranks for the first time in over two years. He last fought at 135 pounds in March 2022, when he stopped British former world champion Lee Selby in five rounds in front of his hometown fans. Lemos returned to action in December 2023, starching Javier Jose Clavero in the opening round. That set the stage for his American debut in April. Lemos traveled to Las Vegas for an IBF junior welterweight world title eliminator and was on the short end of a 12-round decision to American standout Richardson Hitchins. While many experts believed Lemos deserved the nod, he now moves down five pounds to face another unbeaten American mega-talent.
Lemos said, “This is a big occasion for Keyshawn Davis, and I am coming to Norfolk to spoil the party. He picked the wrong guy. On November 8, he’ll find out the truth. He’s not on my level.”
Norman (26-0, 20 KOs) is boxing’s youngest male world champion, a native of Atlanta who turned pro in 2018 at the age of 17. The 23-year-old made his Top Rank debut in early 2023 and was unbeaten in four fights with the company before May’s showdown with Giovani Santillan. The heavily favored Santillan was fighting in front of his hometown fans in San Diego, and Norman pulled off the upset win via 10th-round knockout. He won the WBO interim world title with that stunner and was elevated to full champion in August.
Cuevas (27-1-1, 19 KOs), the WBO No. 7 contender, enters his first world title fight riding a four-fight knockout streak that began in December 2022 with a second-round blitzing of Esneiker Correa. He has punched his passport for his last three fights, which took place in Panama in 2023. Last December, Cuevas knocked down Marlon Aguas in the fifth round en route to a sixth-round TKO triumph.
The undercard is also scheduled to include the following young talents:
- Rising lightweight sensation Abdullah Mason (15-0, 13 KOs) looks to take the next step against Dominican-born puncher Yohan Vasquez (26-5, 21 KOs) in an eight-rounder. The 20-year-old Cleveland native is 4-0 with four knockouts this year, all in four rounds or less.
- Keyshawn’s Olympic teammate, middleweight contender, and Washington, D.C. native Troy “The Transformer” Isley (13-0, 5 KOs) returns to his home region roots in a 10-rounder against Tyler “Hercules” Howard (20-1, 11 KOs). Isley picked up the NABO title in June with a unanimous decision over then-unbeaten brawler Javier Martinez.
- Middleweight prospect Austin DeAnda (14-0, 10 KOs), who hails from Amherst, Virginia, will take on DeAundre Pettus (11-2, 6 KOs) in an eight-rounder.
