Keyshawn Davis is back on the hunt for a title challenger.

BoxingScene has learned that Edwin De Los Santos is no longer in the running—at least for the moment—to next face the unbeaten WBO lightweight titlist. Previous plans called for the matchup to take place on June 7 in Davis’ hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. 

The proposed title fight collapsed when De Los Santos’ team rejected the offer in writing and reportedly asked for significantly more money than the number the two sides reached in a verbal agreement. Neither side was able to comment as this goes to publication, though De Los Santos himself publicly confirmed the fight is no longer in play. 

ESPN Deportes’ Salvador ‘Chava’ Rodriguez was the first to report the fight’s collapse.

The fallout comes just a week after all signs pointed towards an agreement in place for Davis’ first title defense. Talks were productive to where it appeared that the fight could be signed and sealed in time for Top Rank and ESPN to announce as part of its late spring schedule. 

It would have marked the second straight bid at a lightweight title for De Los Santos, 16-2 (14 KOs). The 25-year-old southpaw from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic has not fought since a November 2023 unanimous decision defeat to Shakur Stevenson in their ESPN-aired vacant WBC lightweight title fight from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Davis, 13-0 (9 KOs), won the WBO lightweight title in a one-sided, fourth-round stoppage of previously unbeaten titleholder Denys Berinchyk. Davis twice floored Berinchyk to force the stoppage at 1:45 of the fourth round.

The feat saw Davis become the first male boxer from the 2020 U.S. Olympic boxing team to fight for and win a major title. He claimed a silver medal during the delayed Tokyo Olympics. Ten pro wins have followed, including stoppages in three of his last four starts. 

The upcoming title defense will mark the second in his hometown in a three-fight span. Davis packed the Scope Arena with an announced crowd of 10,568 for last November’s homecoming headliner where he annihilated Argentina’s Gustavo Lemos inside of two rounds.  

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.