Keyshawn Davis Vows To Finish Nahir Albright In Rematch

Former lightweight champion says he is a different fighter ahead of tense rematch with Albright at Scope Arena

Keyshawn Davis says his rematch with Nahir Albright on May 16 will settle unfinished business from their controversial first fight in 2023. Davis returns to Norfolk looking to rebuild momentum after last year’s weight miss and canceled hometown main event.

That first fight ended in confusion. Davis escaped with a majority decision, but the result was later overturned to a no-decision after he tested positive for marijuana. Since then, the tension between the two has only grown.

Their rivalry exploded again last June in Norfolk after Albright defeated Keyshawn’s brother, Kelvin Davis, by majority decision. Keyshawn later confronted Albright backstage, leading to a locker room fight that turned an already ugly rivalry into one of the more personal rematches in boxing. Now Davis says he is entering the second fight as a different fighter.

“I know what I need to do to get prepared. I’m a better Keyshawn now,” Davis said during a training camp video. “I’m not up-and-coming anymore. I’m a former world champion, and it’s going to show on May 16.

“This fight is going to be amazing because I’m amazing, and I go in there and stop guys and that’s what people pay to see. My job is to go out there and fight. I got into this position by knocking people out and being myself.”

The Norfolk card also gives Davis a chance to repair his relationship with his hometown crowd after last year’s embarrassing collapse. He missed weight by 4.3 pounds for his scheduled WBO lightweight title defense against Edwin De Los Santos, lost the belt on the scales, and saw the fight canceled before the crowd ever got a main event.

Davis has since moved to 140 pounds and looked stronger in his January stoppage win over Jamaine Ortiz. Before the weight fiasco, he had built momentum with wins over Jose Pedraza, Miguel Madueno, Gustavo Lemos, and Denys Berinchyk.

Albright, meanwhile, is coming off a draw against Frank Martin and continues to carry the reputation of being a difficult night for higher-profile opponents. Davis says that is exactly why he wanted the rematch.

“I don’t want an opponent who’s going to go in there and just lay down,” said Davis. “In every fight I have, they should be coming confident, ready, and prepared.”

Davis also made it clear he expects the fight to end inside the distance.

“When I go in there super focused and in shape, I know nobody can hang with me. But even if they can hang, they’re going to get stopped, too,” Davis said. “Albright is going to be the fourth guy I stop in a row.”

Fan reaction to the rematch has been lukewarm on social media, with many questioning why Keyshawn Davis is running back a fight against Nahir Albright instead of moving toward bigger names at 140 pounds.

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