It would be the grand exception for any of us older than 30 not to reflect upon a weekend in our 20s to assess, “I wish I hadn’t done that.”
For Keyshawn Davis, the 2021 U.S. Olympic silver medalist and former lightweight world champion, the events of June 2025 arouse such regret.
A day after losing his belt by weighing in 4.3 pounds over the lightweight limit to scrap his title defense against Edwin De Los Santos, Davis scuffled with Nahir Albright, who had defeated Davis’ brother, Kelvin, by majority decision following Albright’s 2023 no-contest versus Keyshawn.
Now the No. 1 ranked WBO 140lbs fighter behind his close friend and four-division champion Shakur Stevenson, Keyshawn Davis 14-0 (10 KOs) has taken Stevenson’s lead and aligned himself with veteran managers James Prince and Josh Dubin.
As Davis heads to the main event of Saturday’s debut DAZN card promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank versus none other than Albright 17-2-1 (7 KOs) back where the trouble first brewed in Davis’ hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, he does so having made a sea change that has lifted his life and career, Dubin says.
In a Monday interview with BoxingScene, Dubin said he and Prince’s union with the fighter would’ve never happened if they had not been convinced the reckless behavior of that lost weekend has been filed away in the past.
“None of us should be defined by our worst moment or worst decision,” Dubin said.
Dubin stated since he and Prince, who also manage WBO lightweight champion Abdullah Mason and previously guided Hall of Fame two-division champion Andre Ward, have joined Davis following the Albright incident and before his sharp January 12th-round TKO victory over Jamaine Ortiz, they’ve been duly impressed.
Davis has addressed himself and “separated from the bad influences” that contributed to past transgressions, and Dubin added, “Neither James nor I would’ve ever signed [Davis] if we didn’t believe he was making all the right changes.”
Dubin has visited Davis in the gym in preparation for Albright after the former champion posted two knockdowns of Ortiz in that 140lbs January debut.
Considering he already represents an unbeaten champion in Stevenson, what Dubin says of the progressing Davis is stop-you-in-your-tracks stuff.
“I don’t think anyone beats him,” Dubin said.
Albright followed the no-contest to Keyshawn and the victory over Kelvin Davis by rallying impressively to fight former lightweight title contender Frank Martin to a draw in February.
Stevenson, 28, and Davis, 27, are too good of friends to fight, but as Stevenson ponders a move to welterweight to meet either WBC champion Ryan Garcia or WBO champion Devin Haney, the expectation is Davis is closing in on a 140lbs title shot with a Saturday showing in the ring that will reduce last year’s weekend to an episode of 20-something mischief.
Davis told video reporter Sean Zittel recently that he didn’t want to fight Albright, but Top Rank wanted it to play upon the prior hard feelings.
Dubin is confident nothing Albright can do or say will trigger a repeat slip by Davis.
“No way. He’s too close to everything else he wants to do now,” Dubin said.
