Mikey Williams / Top RankJunior welterweight Nahir Albright is ready for revenge against Keyshawn Davis.
Albright will face Davis on Saturday at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. The bout will signal the first fight of promoter Top Rank’s new deal with DAZN.
Though the bout is a rematch of their October contest that Davis originally won via a majority decision, that decision was later overturned to a no-contest due to a positive test result for marijuana. An incident in that same arena where they will return to is also adding fuel to the fire.
Albright, 17-2-1 (7 KOs), upset Kelvin Davis, the older brother of Keyshawn, last year. The bout proved to be an ill-fated night for the Davis brothers as Keyshawn lost his WBO lightweight title on the scale after his scheduled fight against Edwin De Los Santos was cancelled due to Davis missed weight.
Abdullah Mason was elevated to the main event, and after Kelvin’s loss, Keyshawn was reported to have had an incident backstage with the 30-year-old Albright.
“Honestly, I don’t want to relive that moment, I just want to focus on this fight,” Albright told BoxingScene. “It does motivate me. It is a chip [on my shoulder], and it is unsettled. We have to handle it in the ring.”
Albright is unbeaten since moving up to junior welterweight, and has fought one time since his biggest career win over Kelvin – a draw against Frank Martin in February. Albright of Philadelphia is eager to show the changes he has made since the first bout.
“I felt I didn’t show all of myself that night,” Albright said. “It is a new weight class now, and I am stronger. It is going to be different this time around.”
For Albright, the bout signifies unfinished business.
“It is personal,” Albright said. “I am coming to fight, I am not coming to play with him. I am about to shock the world next week.”
Davis, 14-0 (10 KOs), is a 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medalist who has already become a titleholder. In January, he made his debut in the junior welterweight division, stopping Jamaine Ortiz. The 27-year-old from Norfolk, will have the support of the local crowd rooting for him, while Albright embraces heading into hostile territory.
“My mindset is to go to Virginia and seek and destroy,” Albright said. “Get him out of there, and show the world where I belong.”
