Keyshawn Davis was set to defend his WBO lightweight world title for the first time, in front of a hometown crowd at the Scope Arena in Norfolk on June 7, 2025. His opponent? Dominican contender Edwin De Los Santos, in what was expected to be a thrilling clash.
But everything fell apart. The fight was abruptly scrapped, and all signs point to one cause: Davis failed to make weight, leading to the cancellation and the loss of his championship.
Davis loses his title on the scale
It all unraveled during the official weigh-in on Friday, June 6. Davis stepped on the scale at 139.3 pounds, a shocking 4.3 pounds over the 135-pound lightweight limit, automatically disqualifying him from defending the title.
With Davis no longer eligible, only De Los Santos could have claimed the belt if the fight had gone on. But last-minute negotiations to salvage the bout-including a proposed catchweight and financial incentives-ultimately broke down.
De Los Santos’ team didn’t trust Davis’ intentions
Edwin De Los Santos’ promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, didn’t hold back when speaking to ESPN:
“We renegotiated at 10 pounds over, offered more money, but came to the conclusion that Davis never tried to make weight,” Lewkowicz said. “He showed up dancing on the scale. We didn’t want a repeat of Haney vs. Ryan Garcia. We canceled the fight.”
Lewkowicz emphasized the need for accountability, saying, “The most important thing is Edwin. I hope this sets an example.” Meanwhile, boxing champion Claressa Shields reacted on Instagram, writing: “Wow wow .”
Will Edwin De Los Santos still get paid?
While Davis walks away empty-handed-and 4.3 pounds heavier-De Los Santos is walking away with a full paycheck. The Ring confirmed that Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. will pay the Dominican fighter his full purse, reportedly around $400,000 despite the cancellation.
Arum also weighed in with a pointed critique. In comments to boxing journalist Dan Rafael, he said:
“You can tell when a guy tries to make weight but just can’t. He looks drained. That wasn’t the case with Keyshawn. He never even tried to hit 135. That’s how I see it.”
Mason vs. Nakathila replaces the main event
With the headliner scrapped, the show must go on. Abdullah Mason vs. Jeremia Nakathila will now headline the Saturday night event, stepping in to save the card.
But the damage is done. Keyshawn Davis not only lost his belt-he lost trust. Now, the boxing world is watching to see how he responds to the biggest setback of his young career.
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