Keyshawn Davis got worked up today when reminded by Gervonta Davis’ coach, Kenny Ellis, about his four consecutive defeats against Cuban talent Andy Cruz in the amateur ranks.
Fans Fear Andy Cruz is Keyshawn’s Kryptonite
Fans believe Keyshawn is terrified of Andy Cruz and what he represents. He’s a career killer, an asteroid that would wreck his money-making hopes for his hopes. Cruz has real talent, and he wouldn’t struggle against the fighters that Keyshawn has looked terrible against recently. It’s unclear why Top Rank didn’t get to Cruz before Matchroom.
Despite repeatedly being called out by 2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz, Keyshawn (11-0, 7 KOs) has rejected the fight. Today, Keyshawn gave his reasons, saying that Cruz isn’t “main event” material and is “not on my level.”
In Andy Cruz’s three fights as a pro, he’s fought better opposition than most of the 11 matches Keyshawn has had.
There’s clearly a reason for that. Top Rank hasn’t been able to fast-track Keyshawn like Matchroom does with Cruz because he’s struggled and shown massive flaws in his game during his fights.
Keyshawn’s recent performances have been poor. His last match against Miguel Madueno on July 6th saw him excessively clinch, wrestle, and use roughhouse tactics to neutralize his high-pressure style. The referee failed to penalize or warn Keyshawn, but he should have because those tactics played a huge part in his victory over Madueno.
There were boos from the crowd at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Last October, Keyshawn was hurt by Nahir Albright, and barely won a ten round decision in a fight where he buckled from the pressure from his opponent down the stretch.
The Disparity in Talent and Matchmaking
After that terrible performance, Top Rank backed Keyshawn off and put him in with a soft opponent, 35-year-old Jose Pedraza, who hadn’t won a fight in three years and came into the match with a 0-2-1 record.
It’s pretty obvious from watching Andy Cruz’s fights in the pro ranks that he’s a much better fighter than Keyshawn can ever hope to be, and he would beat him quite easily if Top Rank were to pull the trigger on that fight.
They won’t because they would wreck the time they spent in his development. However, Keyshawn hasn’t improved since turning pro, and Top Rank will have to decide for him sooner or later. If the idea is to bring Keyshawn along, make him look better than he is, and build an artificial record before cashing him out, that might work.
I doubt it’s going to work because Keyshawn isn’t looking good, even against the lower level he’s facing, and his fights aren’t creating a lot of buzz with fans the way that is needed. Keyshawn is becoming an Edgar Berlanga type of fighter, and the fans know what they’re watching.
Top Rank should just go ahead throw Keyshawn in with Andy Cruz, and keep their fingers crossed that he won’t lose for a fifth time. The fact that they’re not doing that is telling. The faith isn’t there, and I don’t blame them. Keyshawn is a very limited fighter.
Keyshawn Davis Gets Worked Up Over Andy Cruz Reminder
Kenny Ellis: “You lost four times to the Cuban boy [Andy Cruz]. You turned pro, you went back, and you lost again,” said coach Ellis to MillCity Boxing, talking to Keyshawn Davis about his four defeats against Cuban talent, Andy Cruz, yet he doesn’t want to fight him in the pro ranks.
“Is there anything in your DNA that says, ‘I got to get him right now because you’re calling Tank out. I don’t understand.”
Keyshawn Davis: “You ain’t never seen me in an interview talking about this boy?”
Ellis: “You should be calling him [Andy Cruz] out constantly like you calling Tank out.”
Keyshawn: “No, I should not. He [Cruz] is a boy. What happened in the amateurs happened in the amateurs. I can’t go back. I can’t go back and fight again. It’s over. Now that I’m moving forward, I’m man. I move on. I accepted my [2020 Olympic] Silver medal [after losing to Andy Cruz for the fourth time].
“I’m in a position now where the only reason why y’all know him [Andy Cruz] is because of me. When you take me out of it, who knows Andy Cruz? He can’t main event. What is he doing right now? [Answer: Fighting Antonio Moran on August 3rd on His Excellency’s massive card on ESPN+ PPV at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles].
Keyshawn Dismisses Andy Cruz as “Not On My Level”
“He is not making no type of noise. He’s not an exciting fighter. He still has got to build excitement around his own damn name when you’re talking about me. I put on real deal performance from when I first started in this pro game leading up to now.
“He’s not on my level, and he needs time to develop so we can make the biggest fight happen. He’s only calling my name out. He’s not calling Shakur, Tank, or [Frank] Martin. He’s calling out no other lightweights but me.
“I’m just going to let him continue to do all this [talk]. Okay, I’m your son. Every time he fights, they mention my name the entire fight. Let them keep doing it. I’m not tripping off Andy Cruz.”
Ellis: “See how you say it don’t make no sense? That’s how I feel about you and Tank. It don’t make no sense.”
Keyshawn: “I respect that until I do Frank Martin’s a** in. and then it’s going to make sense. The difference between is I can really get these fighters in the ring right now. That little boy can’t.”
