Keyshawn Davis Declares: “I’m Damn Near Retired” – Is He Serious About Quitting Boxing?

Keyshawn Davis says he’s not sure if he’s going to fight again. He sounded confused about what he wants to do with his career after missing weight for his June 7th fight in Norfolk. He says fans should talk to Top Rank if they want to see him back inside the ring.

Davis: Talk to Promoter

“The Businessman’ is retired, he’s gone. If y’all want me back, go talk to my promoter. Talk to the high-level people, say, ‘We need the Businessman back in the ring,” said Keyshawn Davis on social media. “At this point, I’m damn near retired. Boxing right now, it’s kind of slow right now. You might as well say I’m retired.”

Keyshawn’s statement, “I’m damn near retired,” suggests he’s disillusioned with his career. He appears to be dealing with self-doubt about whether he has the talent to beat the best at 140. That’s the division he claimed he was moving up to after missing weight for his fight against Edwin De Los Santos on June 7th.

If Davis moves up to light welterweight, some fighters could expose him just as badly as Andy Cruz did repeatedly in the amateurs. We’re talking about Ernesto Mercado, Gary Antuanne Russell, Subriel Matias, Richardson Hitchins, and Alberto Puello.

The Businessman’s Boxing Exit

“I bought a house already. So, all I’ve got to do is pay my mortgage. I don’t have to stress about getting back in the ring. I don’t know when I’m coming back. I don’t know if I’m going to 140 or 135,” said Keyshawn.

Even if Top Rank does bring Keyshawn back, their matchmakers can’t continue to protect him forever. They built his 12-0 record on weak opposition, allowing him to avoid risking his hide against fighters like Andy Cruz, Abdullah Mason, Raymond Muratalla, or Jadier Herrera. But they can’t continue to do whatever their next network they move to.

Some fans believe the reason why ESPN cut ties with Top Rank is that the matchmakers were putting together too many one-sided fights that lacked drama. They did too good of a job of matching Top Rank fighters in fights that were gimmes and not 50-50 ones.

Keyshawn is a perfect example. None of his fights were ones where there was any possibility of him losing. He was always the favorite. That wasn’t because he’s the best fighter in the lightweight division.

If Top Rank is forced to match fighters like Keyshawn in 50-50 fights or ones where he’s the underdog at 140 in the next broadcast platform they move to, his career could sink because he’s not unbeatable.

He just looked that way in the past because of the way he was being matched. Bob Arum needs to get a clue and get some different matchmakers that will match fighters like Keyshawn in sink or swim fights. They can’t protect him and the other fighters in the stable forever without burning bridges with the new broadcaster.

If this is about trying to get Top Rank to pay him more money, it probably won’t work. The longer Keyshawn stays out of the ring, the less valuable he’ll be to his promoters. It’s not like he had a great career like the legends of the sport.

Keyshawn was steered into his WBO 135-lb title with clever matchmaking. He didn’t have to fight anyone good to get a title shot, and then fought the weakest link among the champions, Denys Berinchyk, to win his belt.