Keyshawn Davis faces arguably the toughest test of his three-year professional career against veteran Jose Pedraza this Thursday night in a ten-round contest on ESPN in the chief support bout in this Top Rank-promoted event at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.

The fight will give Top Rank a glimpse of what they got with the young 24-year-old Davis to let them know if they made the right decision by signing him after his loss to the talented Cuban Andy Cruz in the 2020 Olympic gold medal match.

Eye Contact Speaks Volumes

“He was looking at me, making sure, like, ‘Hey, Keyshawn, I ain’t playing with you,'” said Keyshawn Davis to Fighthype when asked what he saw in the eyes of Jose Pedraza today during their face-off at the final press conference ahead of their co-feature bout this Thursday night.

Davis knows that after his last fight he came close to losing against Nahir Albright last November, he’s got to raise his game against the 34-year-old former two-division world champion Pedraza.

Albright had Keyshawn hurt in the eighth and swept the championship rounds with his pressure. Albright followed the blueprint that Andy Cruz created in the amateur ranks, beating Keyshawn thrice with ease by using pressure.

Cruz pressed Keyshawn hard in their three fights, and he broke like an old clock each time, showing that he couldn’t handle being pressed.

“That’s Pedraza. He’s coming to fight. I’ve been watching Pedraza since I was 16 years old. He was a pro way before me. So, I respect Pedraza,” Keyshawn continued. “We shook hands at the end of the press conference.

“He knows I’m coming to fight too. This is stuff you all know. Like I said before, and I’m going to say again, the fans are going to be the winners at the end of the night,” said Davis.

Fan-Centric Approach

“I think it’s just the opponent. He’s a legit opponent. I can say my last opponent [Nahir Albright] could fight, too, but the accolades speak for themselves in Jose Pedraza,” said Keyshawn. “I can say he’s my first real legit opponent. It’s a challenge for me because this is the first.

“I just got to show the fans how great I am. I’m definitely going to rise to the occasion on Thursday night,” said Keyshawn.