Multiple Authors
Keyshawn Davis made a powerful statement in a new weight class with a 12th round stoppage in the final seconds of his junior welterweight fight against Jamaine Ortiz at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The fight served as the co-main event of Teofimo Lopez vs. Shakur Stevenson and was Davis’ triumphant return after a tumultuous 2025.
Davis (14-0, 10 KOs) was in control from the opening bell, demonstrating exceptional ring generalship and using a jab and body punching to rack up the rounds against an opponent that had never been stopped in his pro career.
“I put on an amazing performance like I promised you,” said Davis. “I heard y’all booing but I gave you a knockout. You just gotta be patient.”
Ortiz (20-3-1, 10 KOs) gave Teofimo Lopez and Vasiliy Lomachenko all they could handle in fights that he came up short in and was expected to give Davis a stiff test for his 140-pound debut. However, he struggled mightily to get anything going and was picked apart by “The Businessman.”
Although he had a significant lead, Davis continued to pursue the finish and dropped Ortiz with a body shot in Round 11. Not quite satisfied, Davis ramped up the pressure and got the job done in the closing seconds with a hard right hand before another body shot put Ortiz down for good.
“I just love being great,” he said. “I keep digging and keep going. I just wanted to put on a great performance, and I feel I did that.”
Davis bounced back after a tough 2025 that saw him lose his championship on the scale when he missed weight and saw his title defense against Edwin De Los Santos subsequently cancelled. Davis teased retirement but decided to return for the fight with Ortiz in a new weight class with a new team. Davis, 26, previously trained with Brian “BoMac” McIntyre alongside Shakur Stevenson and Terence Crawford but decided to go his own way. The move paid off as Davis collected the biggest win of his career as the former WBO lightweight champion has a new target in his crosshairs.
“Devin Haney is definitely on my hit list and we’re making that happen in 2026,” Davis said.
Haney is currently the WBO welterweight champion, which means that Davis would have to go up in weight again for that fight to happen. Whether it materializes next or not, Davis has proven that he belongs alongside boxing’s elite with a dominant performance.
