Keyshawn Davis was set to resolve his rivalry with Albright permanently within the boxing ring.
Returning to the Norfolk Scope, the October 2023 rematch unfolded largely as an unkempt contest.
Albright (17-3-1, 7KOs) made his entrance wearing a Spartan helmet, displaying a resolute expression upon stepping into the squared circle. Conversely, Davis (15-0, 10KOs) emerged beaming and energizing the audience after his three siblings performed a spiritual song. The initial four rounds largely featured referee Malik Waleed’s interventions more prominently than the actual engagement between the combatants.
Between the two, Davis arguably secured the early rounds through his unanswered, swift body jabs. The intensity escalated significantly in round five when Albright landed a solid hit on Davis, causing him distress until Davis countered with a right hand and briefly mocked Albright past the bell. In the sixth round, Davis unleashed his offense and demonstrated his command of the ring, ending the round by forcing Albright against the ropes with a fierce barrage in the last twenty seconds.
As the fight progressed into its latter half, Davis connected with Albright almost effortlessly, yet the contest remained contentious. During the seventh round, Albright was slammed to the canvas after Davis’s patience wore thin from the persistent clinching. In the eighth, Albright retaliated by throwing Davis down, but Davis subsequently controlled the round with accurate overhand rights.
By the eleventh frame, Davis was dismantling Albright with powerful overhand rights and combination punches, ultimately delivering the performance the local audience desired. The twelfth round mirrored the previous one, even momentarily unbalancing Albright with a forceful overhand right. The outcome was undeniably clear. Paul Wallace scored the bout 117-109, and both Paul D’Atillio and Troyce Stamey scored it 118-108, with all favoring “The Businessman.”
During the co-main event, Brian Norman Jr. (29-1, 23KOs) comprehensively defeated Josh Wagner (19-3, 10KOs) through an aggressive assault. The initial round showcased Norman delivering precise jabs with remarkable quickness, indicating the benefits of training with new coach Ronnie Shields. Subsequently, Norman intensified his attack, knocking Wagner down twice with two relentless flurries in the corner.
Following the second knockdown, Wagner informed the doctor of a shoulder injury, prompting referee Eric Irizarry to stop the contest at 1:24 in the second round.
Concluding the DAZN telecast, Yan Santana (17-0, 13KOs) surprisingly secured a unanimous decision victory against Christian Cruz Chacon (24-8-2, 10KOs) in an encounter where Cruz appeared to control every round except the initial three.
Despite Santana being declared the winner, the audience applauded warmly for Cruz, with his cornerman carrying the underdog on his shoulders around the ring. Concurrently, Kelvin Davis (16-1, 8KOs) appeared disoriented by the offensive pressure from “Pistol” Pete Dobson (17-4, 10KOs) en route to his questionable split decision victory.
While the unofficial tallies from DAZN indicated Davis won the initial four rounds, it was challenging to assert he did more than merely endure throughout the first half of the bout. The latter half offered little improvement, as Davis repeatedly lost his footing and fell to the mat whenever Dobson initiated an attack in the eighth round. The concluding round revealed Davis’s lack of polish, even including a foul blow that briefly paused the contest. Nevertheless, judges Brian Costello and Gil Clancy somehow ruled in Davis’s favor, whereas judge Jim Ansbro’s 98-92 score for Dobson aligned more closely with the actual events.
During the non-televised segment, Keon Davis (5-0, 3KOs) aggressively pushed the pace to secure a clean sweep on the judges’ scorecards against a resilient Edwine Humaine Jr. (9-3, 7KOs), while Dedrick Crocklem (7-0, 3KOs) struggled against the clinching and holding strategies of Eric Howard (7-3, 2KOs) to earn his own unanimous decision.
In general, a significant portion of the “Unfinished Business” fight card proved underwhelming, yet the evening’s concluding two matches successfully captivated the audience with impressive, highlight-worthy victories. Regarding Norman, his abilities under the guidance of renowned coach Ronnie Shields appeared exceptionally sharp this evening, suggesting he ought to pursue a rematch against Devin Haney.
As for Davis, his difficulties making the 140-pound limit, coupled with his strong performance at a higher weight against Gustavo Lemos, indicate he might seriously consider transitioning to welterweight for his subsequent bout, given his last two contests lacked enthusiasm. Considering the dynamic fights frequently delivered by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing since the launch of DAZN, Bob Arum ought to recognize that fight lineups such as this one will not be favorably received by enthusiasts who subscribe for high-caliber boxing events at twenty-five dollars monthly.
