Why was Keyshawn Davis stripped of the WBO lightweight title? Highlighting why his fight against Edwin De Los Santos was canceled

Keyshawn Davis was supposed to enjoy a triumphant homecoming. But instead, he left the scales empty-handed.

His fight against Edwin De Los Santos was scrapped after he came in more than four pounds over the title fight limit. Davis tipped the scales at 139.3 pounds, well above the lightweight limit of 135. The bout was set for Saturday night in Norfolk, Virginia, where Davis was supposed to defend his WBO lightweight crown for the first time.

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Missing the mark cost Davis his title as he was stripped of the belt, leaving De Los Santos as the only fighter eligible to claim it. Negotiations began immediately to salvage the bout.

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Both camps explored options, including additional money and weight concessions. But the talks collapsed when De Los Santos’ team raised safety concerns and whether Davis had even attempted to cut further weight.

Sampson Lewkowicz, De Los Santos’ promoter, told ESPN:

“We renegotiated 10 pounds, plus money, but we concluded that Davis never tried to make weight. He came dancing to the scale. I didn't want what happened to [Devin] Haney and [Ryan] Garcia to happen. We canceled the fight." [H/t: ESPN]

Top Rank, the event promoter, confirmed the cancellation late Friday. What should have been a major televised event showcasing a local star quickly turned into a missed opportunity.

Saturday’s card went on, but without its headliner. Abdullah Mason’s lightweight fight with Jeremia Nakathila was promoted to the main event. Davis’ brother Kelvin moved to the co-main slot against Nahir Albright.

Terence Crawford reacts to Keyshawn Davis missing weight ahead of fight against Edwin De Los Santos

Terence Crawford responded calmly to Keyshawn Davis missing weight ahead of his now-canceled fight against Edwin De Los Santos.

He explained that Davis likely outgrew the lightweight division and should move up. Crawford noted that every fighter reaches a point where making weight becomes difficult. He also shared that he faced similar struggles before moving through weight classes.

Speaking in an interview with FightHype.com in the aftermath of the fight cancelation, Crawford said:

"Hey, there ain’t no pressure. He already did this before, what’s the pressure? He said he outgrew the weight, you know what I mean, nobody knows his body. It’s time to move up. That’s why I moved up all the weight classes, you know what I mean. My last fight in the division was hectic, you know what I mean... I made weight, though."

Check out Terence Crawford's comments below:

About the author

Abhishek Ramadasan Nambiar is a journalist who covers MMA at Sportskeeda. As a long-time practitioner of various martial arts, seeing the fusion of different forms into a quest for the ultimate fighter felt both primal and profoundly technical. At Sportskeeda, Abhishek's primary goal is to offer a fresh and distinctive angle through his writing, aiming to provide readers with more than just the basics of MMA. Along with keeping them informed about the latest developments in the sport, he strives to offer valuable insights that enhance their understanding of MMA.

When not writing about MMA, Abhishek often spends time reviewing music or devouring Brian Evanson's and Blake Crouch's work. Sign up to receive news, regular updates, and exclusive coverage.

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Edited by Abhishek Nambiar