NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 21: Keyshawn Davis (L) and Omar Tienda (R) pose during the press conference before their lightweight fight at the Prudential Center on September 21, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – Keyshawn Davis appeared to score a clean knockdown in the first round of his fight Friday night against Omar Tienda Bahena, but the referee did not administer the count.
The 2020 Olympic silver medalist left no doubt in round 5, dropping the aggressive Mexican fighter with a replica of the first round punch before attacking him with a follow-up flurry at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Referee Albert Earl Brown stopped the fight. at the 1:38 mark, when Davis (6-0, 5 KOs) pounded Tienda (25-6, 18 KOs) into the ropes.
The victory was a welcome change of headlines for the 23-year-old fighter from Norfolk, Virginia. Davis was fighting for the first time since April after pulling out of two fights this summer due to stomach illness.
“It felt like a dream come true. I couldn’t believe I got a chance to act [on a card of this] magnitude again being that I was away due to health problems. I really didn’t know what to expect from myself, but I always said that since I turned pro, God has me. And he definitely had me tonight,” lightweight prospect Davis said.
Davis, who turned pro last year before competing at the Tokyo Olympics, lived up to his “Businessman” moniker, running business behind his left jab. Davis picked his spot to split the 34-year-old Tienda’s upper guard with his uppercut, hurting him repeatedly with his opposing right hand.
The stoppage was only the second for Tienda in more than 30 fights, snapping a seven-fight win streak that was built against soft opposition in Mexico.
“We are working to become a contender. My next fight will put me through that process quicker. Then next year we will definitely be contenders, and we will be in the top 10 for sure.”
The bout was the co-feature below the Shakur Stevenson vs. Robson Conceicao as part of a Top Rank telecast that aired live on ESPN.
