What was meant to be a triumphant homecoming weekend for the Davis brothers in Norfolk, Virginia, instead spiraled into chaos and controversy at the Scope Arena on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The night began on a sour note when Keyshawn Davis, the undefeated lightweight prospect, failed to make weight by a staggering 4.3 pounds for his scheduled bout against Edwin De Los Santos. This misstep led to the cancellation of the highly anticipated fight, leaving fans and promoters stunned.
Keyshawn, 26, who carried a perfect 13-0 record with nine knockouts into the event, was stripped of his WBO lightweight title due to the weight miss. The De Los Santos camp, concerned for their fighter’s health and safety, chose not to proceed with the fight, forcing promoter Top Rank to pay De Los Santos his purse despite the bout never taking place. This cancellation marked a dramatic setback for Keyshawn, who was expected to electrify the hometown crowd in what would have been his second fight in Norfolk, following a successful November 2024 appearance.
The disappointment deepened as the night unfolded. In the co-main event, Keyshawn’s older brother, Kelvin Davis, 28, stepped into the ring against Nahir Albright, a 29-year-old from Philadelphia known for his toughness and resilience. Kelvin, carrying a 15-0 record with eight knockouts, was seeking to maintain his unbeaten streak but instead suffered his first professional defeat by majority decision. The fight was a hard-fought battle, with Albright dominating the early rounds through a relentless attack.
Albright’s power punches told the story, outlanding Kelvin 25-5 through the first three rounds and extending that advantage to 50-20 by the seventh. In the second round, a punishing overhand right left Kelvin wobbling, and Albright continued to press the attack, landing significant shots that left Kelvin holding on for survival. Though Kelvin rallied in the seventh with a series of uppercuts and power punches, the judges ultimately awarded Albright a majority decision victory with scorecards reading 96-94, 97-93, and one even at 95-95.
Adding fuel to the fire, Nahir Albright had a history with Keyshawn Davis himself. In October 2023, Keyshawn had edged out Albright in a 10-round majority decision, only for the result to be overturned to a no-contest after Keyshawn tested positive for marijuana. The rivalry was reignited on this night, but the drama was far from over.
Following Kelvin’s loss, tensions escalated backstage in a shocking and unsanctioned altercation. Albright, while being interviewed by ESPN’s Mark Kriegel, revealed he was attacked in the locker room by Keyshawn and his younger brother Keon Davis, 23, who also fought on the card. Albright sported a visible bump on his right forehead and described the incident: “Keyshawn and his little brother jumped me. They started walking up to me all tough and put his head against mine, and grabbed me. I was about to swing but my team and everyone grabbed Keyshawn and everything.”
Video footage captured the melee spilling into the hallways of Scope Arena, with Keyshawn at the center of the chaos, security and police intervening to break up the scuffle. Keon Davis, who had earlier scored a second-round stoppage victory over Michael Velez, was also involved. Kelvin Davis was seen attempting to calm his brothers, while Albright’s brother vocally confronted police officers. The Norfolk Police Department ultimately ejected Keyshawn from the building amid the turmoil.
Keon Davis, who fought at junior welterweight and entered the bout with a 4-0 record and three knockouts, electrified the crowd with a brutal left to the body that sent Velez to the canvas in the second round, securing a stoppage at 2 minutes, 22 seconds. Despite this bright spot for the Davis family, the night’s narrative was overshadowed by the backstage violence and the fallout from Keyshawn’s weight miss.
Meanwhile, other fights on the card offered compelling action. Middleweights Troy Isley and Etoundi Michel William engaged in the card’s best-matched fight, with Isley earning a unanimous decision victory in a bout that could have been a draw. Isley, undefeated at 14-0 with five knockouts, showed resilience despite being hurt late in the eighth round. Judges scored the fight 98-92 and 96-94 (twice) in favor of Isley.
Welterweight Tiger Johnson cruised to a dominant decision win over Janelson Bocachica, with judges scoring 100-90, 98-92, and 97-93, extending Johnson’s undefeated streak to 16-0. In the middleweight division, Euri Cedeño, the WBA’s ninth-ranked contender, stopped Abel Mina in five rounds after landing crushing left hooks that visibly damaged Mina, prompting his corner to stop the fight.
Lightweight Deric Davis also impressed, overpowering Naheem Parker in two rounds with a devastating left to the body that sent Parker down for the count. The night’s opener saw cruiserweight Patrick O’Connor make a statement in his professional debut by halting Marcus Smith in the second round, showcasing his power and skill.
In the aftermath, Keyshawn Davis acknowledged the gravity of his failure to make weight, calling it “very unprofessional” during an interview segment, though he stopped short of a full apology. The boxing community, including ESPN analysts and Hall of Famer Timothy Bradley Jr., did not hold back in their criticism. Bradley remarked, “Keyshawn Davis’ stock just plummeted, to the floor. It was at an all-time high and you see how things change and get the best of you? You see how when you don’t control your anger? Do you see what happens? This type of stuff right here! The stock just plummeted to the floor. I was a Davis brothers fan. I was.”
On Sunday, Kelvin Davis took to Facebook to apologize for the family’s conduct, stating, “Tension was high and emotions got the best of us.” He also insisted that they “didn’t jump nobody” and that they would “regroup but it will be for us and not ‘our people.’”
The weekend’s events have undoubtedly cast a shadow over the Davis brothers’ promising careers. What was supposed to be a celebration of hometown pride turned into a cautionary tale about professionalism, discipline, and the volatile nature of boxing rivalries. With a rematch challenge from Albright hanging in the air and the fallout from the canceled fight still fresh, the Davis brothers face a critical crossroads in their futures.
As the dust settles in Norfolk, the boxing world watches closely to see how Keyshawn and his brothers respond to this tumultuous chapter. Will they rise from the ashes and reclaim their standing, or will this weekend mark the beginning of a downward spiral? Only time will tell.
