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Davis acknowledges lack of Albright motivation as star eyes Haney
Keyshawn Davis told anyone who would listen that Nahir Albright was just another fight.
The former lightweight world champion downplayed any bad blood between them, despite the fact that he defeated Albright in October 2023 only for the bout to be turned into a no contest when Davis tested positive for marijuana.
Nope, just another fight.
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That Albright defeated Davis’ older brother, Kelvin Davis, last June and was later jumped by Davis’ siblings, Keyshawn and Keon … nope, still just another fight.
Then Saturday night rolled around for their rematch at Scope Arena in Noforlk, Virginia, and live on DAZN , and Davis proved that it just was another fight after all.
Davis thoroughly outclassed Albright in a lopsided unanimous decision, demonstrating he’s levels above the veteran Philadelphia fighter. After the scintillating one-way performance in his hometown, Davis conceded that it was hard to get motivated for the Albright fight.
“I mean, honestly, yes, it really was,” Davis admitted to DAZN’s Chris Mannix about building up the drive to clash with Albright. “I wanted to fight people like Oscar Duarte, I wanted to fight people like Devin Haney, I was on the phone with Lamont Roach, so I’m calling out these other guys to make a bigger fight for my legacy.
“But Top Rank insisted I fought Nahir Albright, so … they got it.”
Davis’ frustrations in getting up for the Albright challenge showed during the actual fight as well.
Davis not only smiled in taunting Albright, but scooped him up during the seventh round and slammed him down hard in a move more suited for WWE. He was penalized two points, but that only pushed Davis toward an electric outburst in the 11 th and 12 th rounds when he went for a stoppage.
Prior to the fight, ‘The Businessman’ needed two trips to the scale to even make the super lightweight limit of 140 pounds. To that point, when Mannix broached the possibility of fighting for the vacant IBF 140-pound title, Davis said: “ Maaan , I’ll probably go to 147. All this making weight stuff … it ain’t for me. As ya’ll can see, I ain’t good at making weight, but I just know I could fight.”
Better than most and on an elite level. Davis is that good and demands superior opponents to test his skills. Davis vs. Duarte, Davis challenging Haney, Davis inviting Abdullah Mason up, Davis fighting Brian Norman Jr., who had a successful return Saturday night as well. These are the fights Davis craves and needs.
Hopefully he gets them.
Watch Usyk vs Verhoeven only on DAZN
Oleksandr Usyk puts his unbeaten record on the line against Rico Verhoeven on Saturday, May 23, in front of the Egyptian pyramids, live and exclusive on DAZN. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPV, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
