Editor`s note: This story was published prior to Friday`s events, when Keyshawn Davis failed to make weight and his Saturday fight against Edwin De Los Santos was subsequently canceled.
LAS VEGAS — WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis vividly recalls the moment boxing legend Pernell `Sweet Pea` Whitaker visited a recreation center in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, during a local boxing event. Then just a preteen, Davis was attending to support his older brother Kelvin, who was fighting. Keyshawn, Kelvin, and their younger brother Keon, collectively known as DB3 (Davis Brothers Three), harbored childhood aspirations of transcending `The 757` region to become world-class boxers.
Emulating the success of other prominent figures from the Hampton Roads area, encompassing Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Newport News, presented significant challenges due to issues like increasing crime, persistent poverty across generations, and limited affordable housing options.
`It`s extremely difficult to rise from this area because we lack the resources available in other cities,` Davis explained. `An athlete aspiring to succeed beyond The 757 must truly be exceptional, a `golden child` figure.`
Then, one of those very legends walked through the doors of the recreation center.
`The moment Whitaker entered, he commanded everyone`s attention,` Keyshawn remembered, speaking from the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas as he finalized preparations for his upcoming fight against Edwin De Los Santos, scheduled to take place back home at Scope Arena in Norfolk.
Keyshawn was merely 2 years old when Whitaker, a four-division world champion, concluded his professional career against Carlos Bojorquez in 2001. Yet, through stories and videos, he had learned extensively about `Sweet Pea` and held him in high esteem.
Therefore, when the athlete widely considered the most skilled defensive boxer of all time sat down beside Keyshawn to watch Kelvin`s dominant performance, the aspiration of becoming a world champion felt within reach.
`He was there watching my brother compete,` Keyshawn recounted, the moment still difficult to fully comprehend. `He was yelling encouragement, offering pointers, and you could tell he was deeply invested. For me, as a younger sibling, witnessing a boxing icon from our hometown cheering for my older brother was profoundly meaningful. I admired my big brother, and `Sweet Pea` was engaging directly with him.`
`That day solidified my belief that we had the talent. I knew right then we possessed the ability to truly compete and would ultimately succeed.`
Before his passing in 2019, Whitaker provided guidance to the Davis brothers, spending time with them in the gym, offering advice, and imparting boxing wisdom.
While Davis stands as Norfolk`s first boxing world champion since Whitaker, he joins a distinguished list of athletes from the region, including former NFL quarterback and current Norfolk State head football coach Michael Vick, NBA icon Allen Iverson, and the NFL`s all-time sack leader Bruce Smith, among other notable figures.
Observe ringside at Keyshawn`s bouts, and you`ll often spot Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander alongside Vick, Smith, and Iverson, watching `The Businessman` showcase his skills. It`s common for this community`s esteemed figures to rally behind one of their own. A deep sense of pride permeates this community.
`This inherent support is fundamental to who we are,` Alexander commented. `This bond, linking us to heritage and family, might not be familial by blood, but it`s a kinship forged by being part of the very fabric of `the 757.` We cherish this connection deeply. He is one of us, deserving and receiving our unwavering support.`
This tradition of attending events to support athletes is well-established. Vick shared that he himself saw Whitaker at the local Boys & Girls Club while growing up and once noticed Smith at a Hampton University football game. He stated that these encounters fueled his own aspirations for success, and mirroring the actions of those who came before him, Vick now prioritizes supporting Davis in a similar manner.
`It`s essential that we are present for Keyshawn,` Vick stated, noting he`s followed Davis`s career since his time in the Olympics. `He is our champion, so figures like myself, Bruce Smith, Mayor Alexander, and Allen Iverson feel compelled to attend and demonstrate our commitment to supporting one of our own. Consequently, when he travels, others recognize that individuals of our stature are part of his circle, ensuring his well-being.`
Davis expressed his excitement about a recent conversation with Iverson and Vick by phone. During the call, he absorbed the wisdom and encouragement offered by two transformative athletes from his native area, directed towards the young boxer.
`They were genuinely boosting my confidence ahead of my bout,` Davis remarked. `Can you imagine how incredible that feels?`
Vick stated that his presence at Scope Arena on Saturday would mirror his attendance at other Davis fights, as the former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick intends to be ringside.
`We must treasure these opportunities to witness him compete,` Vick urged. `As a community, we should value these occasions, as future Keyshawn fights may not happen in Norfolk. His talent is such that eventually, all his matches are likely to take place in Las Vegas.`
Keyshawn still faces a considerable journey to equal the achievements of Whitaker, who secured a gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games. Nevertheless, at just 26 years old, already holding an Olympic silver medal from the 2020 Tokyo Games, he is progressing significantly.
Davis represents the most recent top-tier talent to emerge from `The 757.` However, given the region`s inherent characteristics and the dedication of these local heroes to their community, it`s improbable he will be the final one.
`Keyshawn looked up to Pernell from his youth, inspired by his impact both in the ring and his enduring significance to the Norfolk community,` stated Top Rank chairman Bob Arum. `Keyshawn has inherited the legacy of the revered `Sweet Pea` and is now a cherished personality throughout Norfolk and the surrounding Seven Cities area. He is leveraging his prominence to benefit the upcoming generation of young individuals.`
With the city council declaring June 2nd through June 8th as `Keyshawn Davis Week` in Norfolk on Wednesday, Davis`s aspiration to emulate his idol`s influence both inside and outside the boxing ring is clearly being realized.
`I consistently resolved to be actively involved within the city, ensuring its residents recognize that I embody the city`s spirit and advocate for its interests,` Davis commented. `I need the community`s support to propel this journey as far as we possibly can.`
Beyond its Hall of Fame athletes, the region has nurtured Grammy Award-winning musical artists such as Pharrell, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and the legendary Ella Fitzgerald. Olympic gold medalist gymnast Gabby Douglas, NBA champion Alonzo Mourning, and comedians Wanda Sykes and Jay Pharoah are also notable figures hailing from this locale.
`This area is a vibrant mix of talent, and its unique strength lies in the fusion of ideas, conviction, ambition, and resilience,` Alexander remarked, describing the region`s abundant and varied pool of talent. `That distinct quality sets Norfolk and `the 757` apart. We are individuals not shaped to be flawless, but rather disciplined to be persistent. Norfolk consistently generates talent. While some individuals might achieve fleeting success, we are not defined by temporary moments. We represent a continuous movement.`
This collective momentum is why accomplished athletes like Vick return to their roots and contribute to the community. Before accepting the coaching position at Norfolk State in December, Vick had received a more financially rewarding offer from Sacramento State on the opposite coast. However, the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback understood his true calling and obligations.
`The financial package was larger, but I declined it all to return home,` Vick explained, having founded The Vick Foundation nonprofit in 2006 to aid at-risk young people through after-school initiatives in the Hampton Roads area. `While some might view that choice as unconventional, life isn`t solely about finances. We have individuals within our community who genuinely invest in and nurture the younger generation.`
Contributing to the community also significantly motivates Davis, yet his achievements within the boxing ring remain the foundational element.
Davis, often considered a future top-ranked pound-for-pound contender who trains alongside world champions like Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson, exhibits a fighting style that blends Crawford`s aggressive offense with Stevenson`s superb technical mastery. He has built a following through his commanding performances and entertaining presence.
He required only four rounds in February to decisively defeat the previously undefeated Ukrainian boxer Denys Berinchyk and secure a world championship. He is already planning to compete in weight classes up to 140, 147, and 154 pounds and feels his peak performance is still ahead.
`Ultimately, my legacy will be among the greatest of all time,` Davis asserted, mentioning his desire to face opponents like Gervonta `Tank` Davis and Teofimo Lopez. `Presently, I might not be the most prominent name, which is why many potential opponents hesitate to risk fighting me. My skills and capability are already established, but once I achieve a specific level of prominence, they will no longer have the option to avoid me.`
Davis possesses the attributes to become a transformative figure, akin to those who preceded him. However, Vick`s counsel emphasizes Keyshawn`s need to remain acutely aware of his surroundings.
`Immense discipline is required,` Vick stated, reflecting on the numerous legal challenges he encountered throughout his career, notably the 2007 Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation, which resulted in a 23-month prison term and NFL suspension during his athletic prime. `The public often fails to grasp the daily sacrifices necessary to achieve success. One can be doing everything correctly and jeopardize it all in mere moments. Subsequently, that single misstep becomes the sole focus of discussion. Fortunately, Keyshawn is surrounded by positive influences and demonstrates strong discipline. I will remain available to offer guidance whenever he requires it.`
Davis, having recently become a father, understands the significant implications of his success and affirms his dedication to his objectives.
`I committed to myself that I would not stumble or falter,` Davis declared. `I don`t perceive the need to succeed as pressure; rather, success is ingrained in the mindset of `The 757.` That drive was present in Michael Vick, in Allen Iverson, in Pernell Whitaker, and it resides within me. I intend to demonstrate my undeniable capability and proudly represent my city.`