Keyshawn Davis Open to Ryan Garcia Fight on “Even Playing Field”

Lightweight contender says he would face Garcia if the circumstances surrounding the fight remove questions about fairness

Keyshawn Davis says he would fight Ryan Garcia if the circumstances surrounding the bout remove the questions that currently follow Garcia’s name. The lightweight contender addressed the possibility during a recent interview.

When asked about Garcia’s latest fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, Keyshawn acknowledged the performance and said he was impressed with what he saw.

“It was a good performance. Great one, actually,” Keyshawn said to Ring Champs about Ryan’s win over Barrios.

Garcia’s career has been followed by continued debate after he previously tested positive for a banned substance following his fight with Devin Haney. The episode remains part of the discussion whenever fighters are asked about facing him, and Davis pointed to that cloud when explaining his position.

“He got a lot of speculation about his name right now,” Keyshawn said about Ryan

Keyshawn said he takes the issue seriously because he believes he has already experienced something similar inside the sport. Fighters entering the ring under different conditions, he suggested, undermine the competition.

“I ain’t scared to talk about it. I fought somebody on steroids, and that joint ain’t cool,” Davis said.

Keyshawn did not rule out the fight. He said he would still face Ryan if the circumstances around the bout were handled properly and the terms removed any questions about fairness.

When asked directly whether he would fight Garcia under those conditions, Davis gave a simple answer.

“Yes,” he said.

Keyshawn has spent much of the past year calling for fights with several recognizable names as he pushes toward bigger matchups, including a possible move to the 147-pound division. A bout with Ryan would likely represent the highest-profile opponent of his career and place him in a much larger spotlight.

For now, Davis said the fight remains possible, but only if the conditions surrounding it remove the doubts that currently follow Ryan’s name and ensure the matchup takes place under the same rules for both fighters.