Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
The problem is that Davis hasn’t fought the level of opposition that would warrant that comparison.
At lightweight, Davis was always the bigger man, often looking like a welterweight after rehydration. His two most notable opponents in the division were 37-year-old Nahir Albright and Denys Berinchyk. Davis almost lost to Albright in 2023 and was visibly stunned in that fight. Neither fight represented a step toward elite competition at that weight.
Davis also chose not to accept repeated challenges from Andy Cruz, who holds a 4-0 amateur record on him. The move was seen by some observers as a reluctance to return to a match he had repeatedly lost, rather than a calculated career move based on risk and reward.
It’s one thing for Bradley to be excited about Davis beating limited opposition. It’s another to project him as a fighter capable of emulating Terence Crawford without seeing him tested against higher level opponents. Crawford’s career was built on risk, patience and ultimately the strength to fight his way to defining fights. This part of the comparison is missing.
Some fans point out that Crawford himself avoided certain matchups late in his career, including potential fights with Jaron Ennis, Vergil Ortiz Jr. or top contenders at 168 pounds. If the comparison is based solely on selective pairing, Davis could fit the model. But this is a narrow reading of what made Crawford exceptional.
“I think the closest thing to Terence Crawford, the closest thing that has a chance to do what Crawford did, is Keyshawn Davis,” Bradley said during his speech. YouTube channel.
Bradley may want to revisit Davis’ fight against Albright and take a closer look at a resume that remains thin before elevating him to that level. Reassembling a fragile disk is something anyone can do. Being carefully managed does not, in and of itself, make a great fighter.
Bradley praised Davis’ power, boxing ability and IQ while citing his Olympic background and physical tools. What he didn’t address was the lack of high-profile wins. Davis didn’t look special in any of his four fights with Andy Cruz, including their last meeting in 2020, when Cruz controlled the fight.
Below is footage of the 2020 Olympic gold medal fight between Keyshawn Davis and Andy Cruz, included for comparison.
If there’s one fighter from this rivalry that most closely resembles Crawford’s trajectory, it’s the one who’s won every time. Until Davis proves otherwise, the comparison remains unproven.
Comparisons to all-time fighters tend to surface early in a prospect’s career, especially when broadcasters become invested in the outcome. They fade just as quickly when confrontations do not follow. Until Davis gets into fights that have real downsides, the Crawford comparison will continue to feel more like projection than proof.
