Keyshawn Davis produced the best performance of his career in front of a sellout home crowd, sending a thunderous message to the lightweight division on Friday at The Scope in Norfolk, Virginia.

Davis (12-0, 8 KOs), who vowed pre-fight to follow in the legendary footsteps of Norfolk’s Pernell Whitaker, knocked down Argentina’s Gustavo Lemos three times in the second round, forcing the referee to call a halt to the action after the third knockdown. Lemos (29-2, 19 KOs) had only been defeated once before Friday’s highlight-reel setback in a razor-thin decision at the hands of Richardson Hithchins. Consequently, Davis beating Lemos in the fashion he did is a real statement in the lightweight division.

What makes the 2020 Olympic silver medalist’s win even more impressive was the size disadvantage he had in the fight. Lemos weighed in 6.4 pounds over the 135-pound limit at Thursday’s weigh-in, and by the time he entered the arena on Friday, he’d rehydrated all the way up to 155.6 pounds. Lemos was noticeably bigger than Davis in the ring, but that didn’t faze the American, who called out Gervonta “Tank” Davis for an eventual showdown following his stellar performance.

Davis will now likely fight for a world title in 2025. He is ranked No. 3 with the IBF and the WBO, and both title shots could be on the table in the near future. WBO officials said at their convention last month that they would consider making the winner of Friday’s fight the mandatory challenger for Denys Berinchyk. Vasyl Lomachenko’s future is unclear, which could leave the IBF title vacant as well.

On the undercard, top prospect Abdullah Mason rose from two knockdowns in the opening round to knock out Yohan Vasquez with a brutal left hand to the body in round two. The opening round of Mason vs. Vasquez was an instant contender for Round of the Year, as Mason was dropped twice in the round but also put Vasquez on the canvas across an exhilarating three minutes.

Check out Uncrowned’s Keyshawn Davis vs. Gustavo Lemos full results and live blog below.

Lightweight star Keyshawn Davis extended his record to 12-0 by posting a spectacular second-round TKO over Gustavo Lemos at The Scope in Norfolk, Virginia, on Friday. The official time was 1:08.

Davis, 25, dropped his man with a beautiful right hand counter punch in round two and Lemos was badly hurt. The Argentinian fighter rose gamely but was on his back almost immediately from a flush left hook to the jaw. The final knockdown was poetry – a multi-punch combination punctuated by a rocket right uppercut.

“We gave y’all a spectacular night,” said Davis during his post-fight interview with ESPN. “Norfolk, y’all gonna have a world champion next year. Since I’ve been a professional, I can definitely say this has been a marquee night.”

As expected, it was a battle of Davis’ finesse against Lemos’ strength and aggression. The home fighter kept the required distance in the opening round and when Lemos got too close, he was tied up and pushed off. It looked like it could be a long night, but “The Businessman” was in no mood for overtime.

There aren’t many more levels for Davis to go through. He’s already ranked inside the top 3 at 135 pounds with three of the four governing bodies and his talent is astonishing. The lightweight division is stacked and superfights are in his future.

“A world title [is next],” said Davis. “In 2025, we’ve got big, big plans for everybody in the boxing world. Hey, Gervonta… knock, knock!”

Lemos let many people down by coming in a whopping 6.4 pounds over the lightweight limit. His plan to be a weight bully got him nowhere and he falls to 29-2.

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis now has an official date and location for his second fight of the year.

The Ring’s No. 8 pound-for-pound fighter will defend his WBA lightweight title versus Lamont Roach Jr., who moves up in weight. Their scheduled 12-round bout will headline a Dec. 14 PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View event from Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

The event was confirmed by PBC on Sunday evening.

Davis (30-0, 28 knockouts) will attempt the second defense of the full version of the WBA lightweight title. The unbeaten Baltimore native previously held the ‘Regular’ version of the belt before he was upgraded upon the divisional departure of Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KOs; 1 No-Contest) last year.

Prior to securing this fight, Davis and his team sought a unification bout versus reigning IBF lightweight titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko. Such a fight was targeted for November, but Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs), who declined and instead opted to sit out the balance of the year.

A path was eventually created for Roach (25-1-1, 10 knockouts) to enter the equation. The WBA 130-pound titlist was previously summoned to next face interim titlist Albert Batyrgaziev earlier this summer. However, a one-time exception was granted to instead challenge Davis at the higher weight.

With a win, Roach will then have to determine whether he will remain at lightweight or will return to 130. A loss will leave him on the hook to next face Batyrgaziev (12-0, 8 KOs) within 120-days of his fight versus Davis.

Davis and Roach both scored eighth-round knockout wins two weeks apart versus unbeaten challengers.

Davis’ moment came versus Frank Martin atop a June 15 PBC on Prime PPV in Las Vegas. The bout was competitive until it wasn’t. Davis eventually caught up to Martin and put him away for his fourth consecutive knockout.

Roach, stopped unbeaten Feargal McCrory (16-1, 8 KOs) in the eighth on June 28 in Washington, D.C. The night marked the first home game in nearly seven years for Roach, The Ring’s No. 4-rated junior lightweight from Upper Marlboro, Maryland.

Prior to that came his first title win. Roach scored a dramatic 12th round knockdown to outpoint and unseat WBA 130-pound titlist Hector Luis Garcia (16-2, 10 KOs). Overall, Roach has won six in a row. His lone defeat came in a Nov. 2019 decision to then-WBO junior lightweight beltholder Jamel Herring in Fresno, California.

Baltimore’s well-known boxing figure Gervonta “Tank” Davis has gotten the nod to jet off to Paris, but his fists won’t be doing the talking this time around.

Taking on an advisory role, the champ will lend his heavyweight experience to Team USA’s hopefuls at the Paris Olympic Games.

WBAL-TV reports Davis, who’s been grappling with the conditions of his probation stemming from a 2020 hit-and-run, got the judicial thumbs-up for this transatlantic trip.

Meanwhile, Team USA, featuring eight boxers set to make their Olympic debut, will soak up tactics from the Baltimore brawler – including Maryland’s own Jahmal Harvey.

Davis, 29, is slated to be in France from July 19th to August 12th, navigating his role in a boxing format that’s worlds apart from his usual knock-out-or-bust style, which, as per WBAL-TV, has no place in the amateur ring where every second counts and bouts are a brisk three rounds long.

Gervonta “Tank” Davis will be able to allowed to go to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after all.

Baltimore Circuit Judge Althea M. Handy on Tuesday granted a request from the World Boxing Association lightweight champion to travel from July 19 to Aug. 12 to “support and advise” Team USA boxing.

Davis, 29, now of Parkland, Florida, sought permission because he’s on probation for a hit-and-run that happened in Baltimore in 2020. The ruling came less than one week after the judge called his attorney arrogant and accused him of trying to intimidate her.

Hunter Pruette, Davis’ attorney, argued that his client had been compliant on probation and called the opportunity to support the team a huge honor.

Pruette provided a letter from USA Boxing in support of the request.

“Given his status amongst the world’s best boxers, Mr. Davis would be a key asset in motivating and supporting our team to achieve Olympic greatness and become the number one nation in the world at this year’s Olympic Games,” Matt Johnson, high performance director for USA Boxing, wrote in a June 26 letter to Handy.

The Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office did not object to the request.

Handy had repeatedly pressed Pruette for more specific information. She later ended the July 10 hearing without ruling on the request and walked off the bench.

Following the hearing, Pruette filed court documents containing more detailed information about the itinerary.

Davis grew up in West Baltimore and has a 30-0 record with 28 KOs.