Norfolk, Virginia native Keyshawn Davis formally announced his upcoming WBO lightweight title defense against KO artist Edwin De Los Santos, which will take place on Saturday, June 7th at Norfolk's Scope Arena. “Keyshawn Davis is a generational talent, someone who is a tremendous representative for Norfolk and the Seven Cities,” said Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum. “Keyshawn is always asking for the most dangerous opposition, and Edwin De Los Santos qualifies as such. He’s a worthy contender intent on silencing another passionate, sold-out crowd at the historic Scope Arena.”

Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) was already a contender coming off last July’s one-sided decision win over Miguel Madueño. He showed he was one of the sport’s top hometown ticket-sellers that November when he faced Argentina’s Gustavo Lemos, in Norfolk's biggest boxing event since the late Pernell Whitaker fought Buddy McGirt thirty years prior. Despite Lemos being more than six pounds overweight, Keyshawn knocked him out in the second round in front of a sold-out crowd of 10,568. Following the Norfolk coronation, Davis challenged then-champion Denys Berinchyk on Feb. 14th in New York City. He knocked out Berinchyk in the fourth round, capturing his first world title four days before the 36th anniversary of Whitaker winning the IBF lightweight title over Greg Haugen in Hampton, Virginia. Whitaker made his inaugural title defense by knocking out Louie Lomeli at Scope Arena. Keyshawn now has another opportunity to follow in Whitaker’s footsteps.
“Norfolk and the Seven Cities, get ready for another spectacular show,” Keyshawn said. “My first main event at Scope Arena was like something out of a movie, and the sequel will be even better. [My brothers] Kelvin and Keon will set the tone [fighting on the undercard], and I’ll make it a 3-0 evening for DB3. Edwin has had a lot to say recently, but he will be awfully quiet after I get through with him on June 7th.”

De Los Santos (16-2, 14 KOs) had an extensive amateur career of roughly 265 bouts before turning pro in 2018. He was 13-0 with 12 knockouts while fighting in his homeland before making his American debut in January 2022. De Los Santos lost his ‘0’ with a split decision loss to William Foster III, but he closed that year with knockout victories over a pair of then-unbeaten contenders: Luis Acosta and Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela. De Los Santos took the Valenzuela fight on short notice and knocked out the heavy favorite in round three of a Fight of the Year contender. After a one-sided decision over Joseph Adorno in July 2023, he earned a shot against Shakur Stevenson that November for the vacant WBC lightweight world title. In the most competitive fight of Stevenson’s career, De Los Santos lost a unanimous decision by scores of 116-112 (twice) and 115-113.

De Los Santos said, “I want to thank Keyshawn Davis for giving me the opportunity to become the WBO champion. Thank you to Top Rank and my promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz, as well. It will be a great fight, but Keyshawn has made his first big mistake as a professional by choosing to face me. I will prove how big of a mistake it is on June 7th.  I will come to Norfolk in perfect shape and looking for a knockout.”