Everything is set for the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia, to host one of the most anticipated fights of the year in the lightweight division on Friday, June 7. Keyshawn Davis, the WBO world champion, will face Dominican Edwin De Los Santos in a bout where not only the belt will be at stake, but also considerable economic gains that reflect the moment both fighters are going through.
Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) will make his first defense after winning the title last February with a stunning fourth-round technical knockout victory over Denys Berinchyk. De Los Santos (16-2, 14 KOs), meanwhile, will have another chance at world glory, after his setback last November against Shakur Stevenson, where he unsuccessfully contested the vacant WBC title.
Beyond the result, this fight represents a before and after for the finances of both. The American fights at home and comes with rising media support. The Dominican, with his aggressive style and strong punch, is looking to spring a surprise and change his future in boxing.
How much money will Keyshawn Davis earn for this fight?
Keyshawn Davis, nicknamed “The Businessman” for his strategic mindset inside and outside the ring, is seeing a remarkable increase in his value as a professional boxing figure. For this fight in his hometown of Norfolk, sources close to him estimate that his pay will exceed $700,000, a figure that is far more than the $100,000 he would have received in February when he was crowned champion.
The context explains it all: Davis is no longer a promise, he is a reality in boxing. His undefeated status is compounded by the appeal of fighting in front of his home crowd, which has generated more attention and resources for this fight. Since signing with Top Rank in 2021, his career has been on a steady upward trajectory. In fact, his net worth by the end of 2023 was already around $2 million.
In addition, not everything comes from what he earns in the ring. Davis has built a powerful personal brand: in 2024 he signed with Everlast to launch an exclusive line of clothing and also established an alliance with FightLabel to market custom boxing equipment under the Billionaire Boys Club brand. All indications are that if he keeps up the pace, he will be able to surpass the million-dollar mark per fight in the coming years
What will Edwin De Los Santos’ pay be for facing the champion?
For Edwin De Los Santos, this fight represents a unique opportunity in his career. After the defeat against Stevenson and more than a year out of the ring, the fight for the WBO title puts him back in the spotlight… and with an unprecedented financial reward in his career.
At the beginning of the negotiations, there was confusion on the part of his team, who believed that the payment would be around $225,000, an amount that was close to making the deal fall through. However, the final offer was much more attractive: approximately $450,000, a sum that ended up convincing the Dominican and his entourage to accept the challenge.
This is the highest amount he has received in his career so far, and it is not only a reward for his participation: it is a door that can open more lucrative contracts in the short term if he manages to defeat Davis. His record speaks for itself: 14 victories by knockout, 12 of them in the first two rounds. A victory in Virginia would completely change his rating in the international boxing market.
The odds, however, are not in his favor. Davis is a heavy favorite at -800, while De Los Santos is an underdog at +466. But in boxing, everything can change with a single accurate punch.
What happens on June 7 will be a key point in the careers of both fighters. Beyond the belt that will be at stake, the fight represents a moment of economic consolidation for Davis and a possibility of take-off for De Los Santos. The Scope Arena will witness a fight where honor, future and hundreds of thousands of dollars will be on the line.
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