Keyshawn Davis predicts 147 moves for 2026, skips 140

Why 147, why now

The movement of weight itself is not difficult to understand. Davis was big at lightweight. After rehydrating, he already looked like a welterweight. At 5-foot-9, being 135 was never a long-term solution.

The problem is timing. Davis doesn’t make progress after making progress. He is evolving after a year which stopped his career.

Lack of weight, fallout, silence

He hasn’t fought since February 2025, when he stopped Denys Berinchyk to win the WBO lightweight title. This title did not last. Four months later, Davis lost weight by more than four pounds for a planned hometown defense against Edwin De Los Santos. The fight was canceled. The belt has been stripped. The response was not very conclusive.

That same night brought even more problems. Davis and his brothers were involved in a backstage incident following Kelvin Davis’ loss to Nahir Albright. The police were called. The focus has shifted away from boxing.

In August, Davis announced a one-year hiatus. He said he had to get his act together. This break also left his career dormant. Now he’s back to talk about weight classes.

Jump 140 on purpose

Skipping 140 avoids a division full of tough fights and limited benefits. Richardson Hitchins. Gary Antuanne Russell. Ernesto Mercado is also part of this mix. Hard fights. Not many benefits.

Davis had a comeback on January 31 in a fight against Richardson Hitchins. This has been discussed. This has not progressed. The end result has not changed. He remained inactive while the division continued.

Bigger names, fewer benefits

Welterweight brings bigger names and more money. Devin Haney. Conor Benn. It also removes the physical advantages Davis relied on at lightweight. At 147 years old, he won’t be the tallest man. It won’t have any space to navigate. He will have to win rounds.

There are still open questions. Davis has not beaten a top professional opponent. His amateur losses to Andy Cruz – four of them – are still in the picture. Since turning professional, he has been carefully selected. Last year explains why.

He also rebuilt his team, cutting ties with longtime coach Brian “BoMac” McIntyre and starting from scratch. This may help. It can also indicate instability. For now, plans remain unclear. No opponent has been named. No date has been set. Davis has direction. He doesn’t have a foothold yet.

Going to 147 may solve the weight problem. This is not about discipline. This does not recover lost time. Welterweights have a way of solving these questions quickly.

In 2026, Keyshawn Davis will not be judged on the projection. He will be judged on whether he shows up and holds things together.