Throughout the years, we’ve witnessed some legendary showdowns between fighters who started out as good friends. Remember when Simon Brown clashed with Maurice Blocker for the welterweight title back in 1991? Or take a trip further back to when Muhammad Ali faced off against Jimmy Ellis, one of his buddies. Undoubtedly, there are more stories like this where camaraderie turned into competition in the ring.
However, Keyshawn Davis is one fighter who firmly stands by his decision never to go toe-to-toe with his closest buddy. On Friday night, Davis proudly snatched the WBO lightweight title from Denys Berinchyk, yet he seems fed up with the constant buzz about a potential match against Shakur Stevenson. Talking to The Ring, Davis didn’t mince words when he declared that a fight between them is utterly out of the question.
“Listen, guys, we’ve all seen this coming since our amateur days,” Davis explained. “This question is getting really tiresome because it’s the one I keep answering over and over. We always knew people would want to see us fight because they recognize our greatness. But no, it’s never going to happen, so save your breath!”
And that’s the final word on the matter. No amount of cash, nor the loudest cheers from fans, will convince Davis with his flawless 14-0(9) record to square off against Stevenson, who’s just as undefeated at 22-0(10). Fans are divided—some hail Stevenson, the WBC champion, as the top contender at 135 pounds, while others champion Davis. It’s admittedly a bitter pill to swallow that this matchup will remain a fantasy.
Even so, the horizon is bright with other thrilling prospects for these unbeaten fighters. For Davis, a tantalizing pro rematch against his amateur adversary Andy Cruz could be on the cards. Cruz, with a solid 5-0(2) record, repeatedly bested Davis in their amateur days, leaving fans eager for a showdown on the professional stage.
With a world title now shining on his resume—possibly the first of many—Davis might just be eyeing a chance to settle the score against the Cuban star rising through the ranks. Meanwhile, Stevenson is gearing up for a big night in Riyadh this Saturday, where he’ll take on Floyd Schofield on a card packed with action.
