Keyshawn Davis is returning to his hometown for his first world title defense.
“The Businessman” will put his WBO lightweight title on the line against Edwin De Los Santos on June 7 at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, Top Rank confirmed Thursday morning. The event will be televised on ESPN in the United States.
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A crowd of 10,568 at the Scope Arena witnessed Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) knock out Gustavo Lemos in two rounds in November. The destructive performance earned the 2020 Olympic silver medalist a fight with WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk.
Keyshawn Davis is a rising boxing star. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
(Sarah Stier via Getty Images)
Davis, 26, made easy work of the previously undefeated Berinchyk as well, taking him out in the fourth frame in February.
De Los Santos (16-2, 14 KOs) will end a 19-month layoff when he faces Davis. The Dominican unsuccessfully challenged Shakur Stevenson for the vacant WBC lightweight title in November 2023, losing a competitive decision.
De Los Santos, 25, made history in that fight — although probably not the historic feat he was hoping to achieve. At the time, De Los Santos’ 40 punches landed against Stevenson were the fewest landed in a 12-round fight in CompuBox’s 38-year history.
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Uncrowned’s runner-up for 2024 Prospect of the Year, Abdullah Mason, will face Jeremia Nakathila in the night’s co-feature.
Mason (18-0, 16 KOs) has already fought twice in 2025. The 21-year-old halted Manuel Jaimes in the fourth round in February and forced Carlos Ornelas to retire on his stool after six rounds in April.
Nakathila (26-4, 21 KOs) has put together a three-fight win streak after suffering back-to-back early KO defeats to Raymond Muratalla and Ernesto “Tito” Mercado in 2023.
Elsewhere on the card, Kelvin Davis (15-0, 8 KOs), Keon Davis (2-0, 1 KO) and Troy Isley (14-0, 5 KOs) will all return to action.
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