Keyshawn Davis continues to fight despite Gustavo Lemos’ weight issues

Keyshawn Davis’ homecoming fight against Gustavo Lemos continues Friday night in Norfolk, Virginia – although Lemos was 6.4 pounds overweight as of Thursday – after the Argentine weighed under the daily limit on Friday morning.

Lemos weighed 144.6 pounds at the weigh-in that same day, according to the organizer’s top ranking, which was under the 146-pound limit. The 10-round lightweight bout – which will headline Top Rank Boxing on ESPN – was reduced to 135 pounds but later moved to 136 pounds to allow Lemos an extra pound on Friday morning.

Virginia Athletic Commission rules require a fight-day weigh-in in which boxers cannot rehydrate more than 10 pounds, even if the fighters do not lose weight, which is rare. Davis weighed 134.2 pounds on Thursday and weighed 141.2 pounds on Friday.

Lemos (29-1, 19 KOs) will also be fined by the commission. Not only did Lemos miss the lightweight limit; He also tipped the scales in pushing him past the junior welterweight limit.

Lemos’ last fight, a controversial decision loss to Richardson Hitchins in April, was fought at 140 pounds (an IBF junior welterweight title eliminator). Lemos, 28, also missed weight in August 2023 when he was 8 pounds over the lightweight limit in a training bout with Javier Jose Clavero.

That fight was postponed and rescheduled three months later at 140 pounds. With five extra pounds to deal with, Lemos bulked up and scored a first-round TKO.

Davis (11-0, 7 KOs), 25, is an Olympic silver medalist who was ranked the No. 6 lightweight prospect by ESPN. Friday’s fight is Davis’ first headliner and a win could lead to a title shot next year. More than 10,000 fans are expected on Friday evening.