Gustavo Lemos Predicts Keyshawn Davis Will 'Start Running' In Upcoming Fight

Gustavo Lemos, the Argentine lightweight contender, is gearing up for his clash against Keyshawn Davis, an undefeated American boxer. This highly anticipated 10-round bout is scheduled for November 8th, 2024, at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, and will be streamed live on ESPN+. Lemos, who holds a record of 29-1 with 19 knockouts, has been vocal about his expectations for the fight, predicting that Davis, with a record of 11-0 and 7 knockouts, will resort to evasive tactics rather than engage him in a toe-to-toe battle.

Lemos’ Critique of Davis’ Style

Lemos has closely watched Davis’ previous fights and believes that the American tends to rely heavily on movement and defensive tactics when faced with tough opposition. Lemos noted that Davis often “runs” in the ring, using excessive movement to avoid taking hits. He stopped short of mentioning Davis’ tendency to wrestle and grapple when pressured, but fans saw this tactic in his last bout against Miguel Madueno in July 2023. In that fight, Davis employed more defensive maneuvers to escape Madueno’s aggression.

Top Rank, the promotional company behind Davis, is keen on turning him into a future star, but Lemos suggests that this upcoming fight could be a pivotal moment in Davis’ career. If Davis performs poorly, as he did against Madueno and Nahir Albright, it could force Top Rank to reconsider their strategy. According to some critics, if Davis doesn’t live up to expectations, Top Rank might focus their resources on rising stars like Abdullah Mason, who is seen as a more promising prospect in the lightweight division.

Keyshawn Davis and His Fighting Style

Davis, a 2020 Olympic silver medalist, shares a close friendship with fellow boxing star Shakur Stevenson. The two fighters have a somewhat similar fighting style, characterized by a lot of movement and defense to avoid punishment. However, Davis differentiates himself by being more aggressive when facing opponents who aren’t known for their punching power. This fight with Lemos, a hard-hitting fighter, could test Davis’ ability to handle pressure while sticking to his defensive style.

Despite the criticism from Lemos, Davis specifically chose him as his next opponent out of several options offered by Top Rank. According to Todd Duboef, Top Rank’s president, Davis was presented with a list of potential fighters, and he opted to face Lemos. Duboef didn’t reveal who the other fighters were, but fans speculate that one name not included was Andy Cruz. Cruz, a highly skilled Cuban boxer, has proven to be Davis’ kryptonite, having defeated him four times in the amateurs, including in the 2020 Olympic finals, where Cruz dominated Davis.

Lemos’ Motivation and Confidence

In preparation for the fight, Lemos is confident that defeating Davis will propel him to the upper echelon of the lightweight division. Speaking to Fighthype, Lemos said, “We will beat Davis to get to the highest levels to get an opportunity for a title.” He also downplayed concerns about coming down from his natural weight class of 140 pounds for this fight, explaining that he’s prepared to make the necessary adjustments and come in strong. “I was very close to the other division. I weighed in below the limit. So, for this fight, I’m going to be coming in strong,” Lemos assured.

Lemos is coming off a controversial 12-round unanimous decision loss to Richardson Hitchins in April 2024. Many fans and analysts believe that Lemos outperformed Hitchins during the fight, out-punching him for significant portions of the bout. However, the Nevada judges awarded the victory to Hitchins, which left Lemos and his supporters feeling aggrieved. Despite the setback, Lemos remains focused and is looking forward to proving himself against Davis.

Why Lemos Was Chosen as Davis’ Opponent

The selection of Lemos as Davis’ opponent has raised eyebrows among boxing enthusiasts. Lemos typically fights at 140 pounds, making him a natural junior welterweight, while Davis is a lightweight who competes at 135 pounds. Some fans speculate that if Lemos struggles to make the lightweight limit, it could leave him drained and give Davis a significant advantage. The choice of Lemos, who is coming down in weight, rather than a more established 135-pound contender, has led to questions about Top Rank’s strategy.

Many fans believe that Top Rank is purposefully avoiding more dangerous opponents for Davis at this stage of his career. Fighters such as Andy Cruz, Edwin De Los Santos, Floyd Schofield, William Zepeda, Raymond Muratalla, Abdullah Mason, and Isaac Cruz would pose a significant challenge for Davis and could potentially derail his career progression. For now, Lemos seems like a safer option, one that won’t jeopardize Davis’ potential big-money fight against Gervonta Davis, another superstar in the lightweight division.

Lemos’ Strategy and Concerns

Despite Davis’ unbeaten record and the backing of a major promotional company, Lemos is not intimidated. He’s going into the fight with a clear strategy: look for a knockout and pressure Davis into making mistakes. Lemos has expressed concerns that Davis may avoid engaging in exchanges and will try to run around the ring instead of standing his ground.

“Like in all fights, I’m going to look for a knockout,” Lemos said. “What I’m worried about is he’s not going to want to throw punches, and he’s going to start running. I prefer for him to stand in the center of the ring and not run. If that happens, it could end at any time for any one of us.”

This comment underscores Lemos’ belief that Davis might not be willing to trade punches and could instead rely on his movement to avoid Lemos’ power shots. For Lemos, this fight is an opportunity to showcase his ability and bounce back from the controversial loss to Hitchins. If he can pressure Davis and force him into a firefight, Lemos believes he has the power and skills to secure a victory, whether by knockout or on the scorecards.

The Stakes of the Fight

For Keyshawn Davis, this fight represents a crucial step in his career. A victory against Lemos would solidify his standing as a rising star in the lightweight division and keep him on track for bigger fights down the line. However, a poor performance or a loss could force Top Rank to rethink their investment in him and shift their focus to other prospects like Abdullah Mason.

For Gustavo Lemos, this fight is a chance to re-establish himself after the controversial loss to Hitchins and move closer to a title shot. Beating a high-profile fighter like Davis would elevate his profile and potentially set up more significant opportunities in the future.

As the fight approaches, the pressure is mounting for both fighters. November 8th will reveal whether Keyshawn Davis can rise to the occasion and prove his critics wrong or if Gustavo Lemos can pull off an upset and catapult himself to the top of the lightweight rankings.