Keyshawn Davis plans return to boxing with division move following controversy

Keyshawn Davis petitions for the WBO #1 spot

It has recently been revealed that former Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) has reached out to the WBO to petition for the WBO #1 spot to face Teofimo Lopez (22-1, 13 KOs) at 140 lbs. 

If the proposal were granted, the American would likely face the current #1-ranked Alfredo Santiago, with the winner next in line for the title shot.

Davis lifted the lightweight WBO title earlier this year, but a title defence never came to fruition, with attempts spiralling into disaster.

He was originally meant to fight Edwin De Los Santos in his hometown, but after missing weight, the bout fell to the wayside. 

Then shortly after, he found himself in a row with Nahir Albright - who had defeated his brother on the same June card.

Originally, Davis had been planning to take a break from boxing and had admitted that it was time to leave the lightweight division behind.

"I could've [said], 'I'm going through stuff and that's why I did [it].' Nah, I don't even want it to come off that way," Davis previously revealed to The Ariel Helwani show.

"I was wrong. I'm grown enough to know that I need to be better for my son, for myself, and for God.

"When I get back to boxing, just know that I am going to be a better Keyshawn."

"[I was] undisciplined for sure. Not being true to myself as well..." Davis said following his June fiasco. 

"I had another homecoming fight, and I wanted to defend my title in my hometown. I just took a sacrifice to try to make the weight again, and it just didn't turn out that way."

He now seems to be planning a return earlier than anticipated, and the jump in weight makes complete sense given the top names' lack of ring time in recent months.

140 lbs champion, Teofimo Lopez, is hardly active - having fought just three times since his 2023 win over Josh Taylor. Therefore, it would seem logical that if Davis can get past Santiago, there would be little in the way of matchmaking him for the WBO super lightweight strap.