NORFOLK — What was supposed to be a happy homecoming with a week full of activities turned nightmarish for the Davis brothers — Keyshawn, Kelvin and Keon — better known as DB3.
First, Keyshawn Davis’ main-event boxing match was canceled after he missed weight Friday, and though Saturday’s card at Scope went on without him, it was marred by a post-fight scuffle involving Keyshawn and Keon after Kelvin’s first professional loss.
Keon “The Juice Man” Davis started the night with a second-round knockout of Michael Velez-Garcia. Later, Nahir Albright said Keon and Keyshawn “jumped” him in the locker room after Albright defeated Kelvin Davis by majority decision.
Albright told an interviewer on ESPN that . They started walking up to me all tough and putting his head against mine.”
Videos on X also showed Keyshawn and Kelvin Davis in an incident in a Scope hallway.
Albright had a bump on his head and said it came after he butted heads with Keyshawn Davis.
“So, I guess they heard us like happy and all that kind of stuff, and they came in,” Albright said during post-fight interviews. “I mean, they upset that they brother lost. Poor sportsmanship.”
Albright’s coaches and security intervened to break it up, and Albright added that he thought Kelvin Davis tried to break it up.
The fracas capped a week of what-ifs for Keyshawn Davis, a Norfolk native who became the World Boxing Organization lightweight world champion with a .
Kelvin Davis issued an apology on social media Sunday: “On behalf of DB3 we apologize for conducting ourselves in that way tension was high and emotions got the best of us we will be back and better and more professional,” he wrote, adding, “We DIDDN’T JUMP NOBODY, but keep believing the media thats twising narratives.”
Keyshawn, nicknamed “The Businessman,” was scheduled to make the first defense of his lightweight title against Edwin De Los Santos. But The two sides tried to reach an agreement for the bout to go on, but it was canceled.
Organizers said about 3,000 fans received refunds for their tickets before Saturday’s card began, with a crowd of more than 6,500 attending.
Things started well Saturday when Keon, the youngest Davis brother, stopped Michael Velez-Garcia at 2:22 of the second round. Davis (4-0, 3 KOs) punished Velez-Garcia with a body shot, dropping him to his knees before the referee stepped in.
“I was actually expecting a early knockout, for real, for real,” Keon Davis said. “I felt his stomach go in when I punched him. So, I knew it was a good shot.”
He admitted that the 24 hours prior to his fight had been hectic with the news about Keyshawn. But he said his brother motivated him.
“It was very difficult for me to stay focused,” Keon Davis said. “It was a lot going on social-media wise, personally and just everything. But I’ve been here before, you know. I always know how to weather the storm.
“And my brother, he just showed me regular brother support, you know what I’m saying. That brought me up … He gave me the same energy that he always brings.”
But the night went from good to bad to ugly quickly.
After Keon Davis’ impressive win, Kelvin “Nite Nite” Davis was next.
His fight against Albright was elevated to the co-feature bout and was shown live on ESPN.
But Albright took the fight to Kelvin Davis, hurting him several times, including in the second and fourth rounds. Albright won a majority decision — 96-94, 97-93 and 95-95 — to claim the vacant Silver US World Boxing Council junior welterweight title and hand Davis (15-1) his first pro loss.
Afterward, Albright said Keyshawn and Keon Davis came into his locker room.
“I was in my locker room, celebrating my victory with my team, and Keyshawn and his little brother had came in and they started looking at me and was like saying something about their older brother, like they was mad,” said Albright (17-2). “And (Keyshawn) liked grabbed me, pushed me back. I’m like grabbing his head, and he moved his head towards my head. He liked head-butted me. Yeah, that’s what happened.”
“It’s a little unfortunate, but nothing could take away, you know, the feeling of being a champion tonight,” Albright said, holding his championship belt. “I ain’t gonna let nothing ruin my night. I’m the new champion.”
Videos of the incident quickly circulated Saturday night on various social media sites.
Albright, who said he had never seen anything like this before, was asked if he considered pressing charges.
“I have to talk to my team,” he said. “And we’ll see what we’re going to do.”
Fans and boxing pundits called for the Davises to be suspended.
As he ended his news conference, Albright was asked if he had any last words for the Davis brothers.
“DB3,” he said, “I’m going to just pray for you all.”
Larry Rubama, 757-575-6449, larry.rubama@pilotonline.com
