The Keyshawn Davis vs. Gustavo Lemos showdown headlined a gripping boxing card on Friday, Nov. 8, at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. Though the event lacked some of the sport’s most prominent stars, it more than compensated with performances that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Alongside the main event, the card featured several exciting bouts, including a compelling co-main event between Troy Isley and Tyler Howard. The evening also showcased notable clashes, such as Abdullah Mason against Yohan Vasquez and Austin DeAnda vs. DeAundre Pettus. Let’s dive into the key highlights that made this event memorable.
Keyshawn Davis dispatches Gustavo Lemos with ease in round two
Keyshawn Davis made a spectacular entrance before his hometown Norfolk crowd, stepping out to the vibrant live rhythms of a local marching band.
'The Businessman' wasted no time showcasing his dominance, dismantling Gustavo Lemos with precision and controlling the action from the opening bell. Although Lemos came out swinging with heavy punches, Davis skillfully slipped past each shot and responded with pinpoint counters.
A crisp left hook from Davis sent 'El Electrico' to the canvas in the second round, followed by another left that dropped him again. Sensing his opponent's vulnerability, Davis unleashed a punishing uppercut, leaving Lemos unable to continue. The referee stepped in at 1:08 of the round to stop the fight.
Troy Isley outclasses Tyler Howard across 10 rounds for decisive win
In the co-main event, Troy Isley put on a technical masterclass to register a commanding win over Tyler Howard in their middleweight clash. 'Transformer' set a relentless pace, delivering sharp jabs and powerful combinations that kept 'Hercules' on the defensive throughout.
Despite Howard’s efforts to mount a comeback in the later rounds, his attempts were stifled by Isley’s precision and speed.
Isley's jab continually broke Howard’s rhythm, leading to a decisive victory with scores of 99-91, 98-92, and 99-91.
Abdullah Mason shakes off early setback to stop Yohan Vasquez
Of all the bouts on the Norfolk card, the Abdullah Mason vs. Yohan Vasquez clash stood out as one of the most entertaining. Mason found himself in deep waters early, being dropped twice by left hooks in a fast-paced opening round.
However, the undefeated fighter displayed remarkable resilience, shaking off the early blows and responding with a perfectly timed counter uppercut that sent Vasquez crashing to the mat.
Mason came out aggressive in the second round. He focused on attacking Vasquez's body, landing a devastating blow to the midsection that sent his opponent to the canvas. The referee, seeing Vasquez unable to continue, promptly waved off the fight at 1:59.
Austin DeAnda takes unanimous decision victory over DeAundre Pettus with haircut break
Austin DeAnda entered his middleweight showdown with DeAundre Pettus sporting a full head of long hair, meticulously braided before his ring walk.
However, a series of punishing blows from Pettus in the third round caused DeAnda's braids to unravel, momentarily blurring his vision. Annoyed by his hair obstructing his focus, ‘The Native Nightmare’ took matters into his own hands, requesting his cornerman to give him an impromptu trim during the break between the third and fourth rounds.
The unexpected mid-fight haircut seemed to work wonders for DeAnda, as he regained his composure and dominated the action in the later rounds. Despite a grueling back-and-forth contest, ‘The Native Nightmare’ edged out Pettus in the final rounds. The judges saw it in his favor, awarding him a unanimous decision with scorecards reading 77-75, 78-74, and 77-75.