Keyshawn Davis has lost his WBO lightweight title before even stepping into the ring against Edwin De Los Santos after missing weight by more than four pounds ahead of their June 7 showdown in Norfolk, Virginia.
The 2020 Olympic silver medalist weighed in significantly over the 135-pound limit, resulting in him being stripped of the belt he won just months ago by defeating Denys Berinchyk in February.
"I outgrew the weight," Davis explained after the weigh-in debacle. "I've been making this weight for over four years now... I was up late last night, I woke up early this morning trying to make the weight. I just outgrew the weight... it is what it is... The show must go on."
Despite the setback, the undefeated Davis (13-0) will still compete in front of his hometown crowd at Scope Arena. However, only Edwin De Los Santos (16-2) can now claim the vacant WBO lightweight championship.
For De Los Santos, this marks his second shot at world title glory after coming up short against Shakur Stevenson in 2023. The Dominican puncher, who boasts 14 knockouts in his 16 victories, now finds himself in an unexpected advantageous position.
Interestingly, Davis' weight miss suggests his future likely lies at 140 pounds in the super lightweight division. He nearly hit that mark on Friday's scale, indicating this may be his final appearance at lightweight regardless of the outcome.
The main card kicks off at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN, with Davis and De Los Santos expected to make their ring walks around 11:15 p.m. ET. Can Davis salvage his homecoming with a victory despite the championship disappointment? Or will De Los Santos capitalize on his opponent's weight struggles and capture the title that only he can win?
