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2 days ago
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Boxing World Slams Keyshawn Davis for Weight Miss and Altercation: "Behave Like a Champion!"
Boxing World Slams Keyshawn Davis for Weight Miss and Altercation: "Behave Like a Champion!" originally appeared on Athlon Sports. While championship belts are won in the ring, legacies are built outside it. The boxing world has seen too many talented fighters derailed by unprofessional behavior, from weight misses to public altercations that overshadow their skills. Champions are held to a higher standard, expected to embody discipline and sportsmanship even when the cameras are off. A fighter's reputation often hinges on moments when they're not throwing punches – moments where character matters most. Advertisement Hall of Fame boxing analyst Teddy Atlas didn't hold back on his podcast The Fight with Teddy Atlas, scolding WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis for his recent weight miss and backstage altercation with Nahir Albright after he defeated Davis's brother Kelvin. Elsa-GettyImages The incident occurred ahead of Davis's now-canceled June 8 title defense, where he failed to make weight by 3.5 pounds, leading to his temporary stripping of the WBO belt. Atlas, known for his no-nonsense commentary, dissected the controversy with trademark bluntness, emphasizing that Davis's actions betrayed the responsibilities of being a champion. Advertisement "There's a responsibility that goes along with that title, champion," Atlas declared. "The responsibility is that you have to make sure you behave like a champion at all times. Not only in the corner, not only when you've been hurt, not only when you're tired, but at all times." The veteran trainer, who has mentored 18 world champions, stressed that Davis's lapse in professionalism overshadowed his accomplishments, including his Olympic silver medal and undefeated record. Atlas acknowledged Davis's talent and his ability to overcome mental health issues, but argued that greatness requires consistency beyond the ring. 'That night, for all the good things that Keyshawn Davis has done—and he's done a lot that I already touched on to get to where he's gotten to through life—he let himself down,' Atlas said in disappointment. 'He let himself down because he forgot for a moment what a champion doesn't do.' The altercation with Albright, which escalated into a physical confrontation at the Scope Arena in Virginia, further fueled Atlas' criticism. Advertisement Watch the incident here: 'There's a responsibility that goes far beyond putting combinations together. It has got to do with the choices you make outside the ring, in life.' Atlas continued. 'You must understand there are certain things that are just beneath you, that are not allowable.' On an ESPN post-show reaction of the altercation, analyst Mark Kriegl and boxing veteran Timothy Bradley Jr. expressed their disdain for Davis's behavior as well. 'It's a damn shame... I admire the kid so much for what he has overcome and what he has shown at this very arena,' said Kriegl. 'What we just saw was not supposed to happen. It was unnecessary and certainly didn't hurt the Davis brothers.' Advertisement Bradley was much more critical in his assessment of the incident, extending his criticism to the other Davis brother, Keon, who was involved in the backstage brawl. '[His] stock just plummeted to the floor,' Bradley said. 'I was a Davis brothers fan, I was. Nah, I'm an Abdullah Mason, Mason five brothers fan because of the way they behave as true professionals.' The fallout has been swift. The WBO reinstated Davis' title only after he agreed to face mandatory challenger Edwin De Los Santos by September, but the damage to his reputation lingers. Davis has yet to address the incident, but his antics could cost him lucrative fights, including a potential showdown with Gervonta Davis. Advertisement Related: Former Mike Tyson Coach Praises Junto Nakatani's Versatility: 'Fights Like Joe Frazier and Jake LaMotta' Related: UFC, WWE, and Boxing Mega-Event Reportedly in the Works This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
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Plans are unclear for Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty and others with the Preakness 2 weeks away
Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, left, crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, right, crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, celebrates in the winners circle after winning the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Junior Alvarado celebrates after riding Sovereignty to victory in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, left, crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race followed by Journalism, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, left, crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race followed by Journalism, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, left, crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, right, crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, celebrates in the winners circle after winning the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Junior Alvarado celebrates after riding Sovereignty to victory in the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) Sovereignty, ridden by Junior Alvarado, left, crosses the finish line to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby horse race followed by Journalism, ridden by Umberto Rispoli, at Churchill Downs Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Sovereignty's Kentucky Derby victory in the muck at Churchill Downs sparked curiosity over whether the colt can build on his signature win over a possibly drier, faster surface on the Triple Crown trail. The question now is whether that test will come sooner or later. Advertisement Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott didn't sound like someone preparing Sovereignty for a trip to Baltimore to run in the 150th Preakness Stakes on May 17 at Pimlico Race course, offering a cautious approach Sunday. 'The great thing about the Triple Crown is that not many horses are able to do it,' Mott said, referring to American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018. 'I believe that he's a big, strong horse and if you're ever going to look at one and say, OK, if that's your goal and the goal of the owner, it's still in the best interest of the horse. But we're going to look long term.' The immediate futures for horses that finished just behind Sovereignty or skipped the Derby altogether remained muddy, as well. Two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert returned to Churchill Downs after a four-year suspension with two entries but scratched Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez, pointing him toward the Preakness. Fellow Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher scratched his lone Derby entrant, Grande, on Friday. There's also a large group of hopefuls who earned Derby points during qualifying and could try other Triple Crown stops. Advertisement The Preakness is the shortest race at 1 3/16 mile, but its quick two-week turnaround from the 1 1/4-mile Derby often gives pause for trainers and ownership groups. With the Belmont Stakes set for June 8, five weeks after the Derby and separated three weeks from the Preakness, that race is viewed by many as a preferred option. That final jewel of the Triple Crown, taking place at Saratoga Race Course in upstate New York for a second consecutive year, features the same distance as the Derby because of the shape of the track instead of its traditional 1 1/2-miles. Redemption might be in order for Derby runner-up Journalism, who fell short as the 3-1 favorite. Trainer Michael McCarthy was not available to talk to reporters Sunday but praised his colt's effort to rally into the lead briefly before Sovereignty, the 7-1 third choice, overtook him in the stretch and won by 1 1/2 lengths. 'He made a nice middle move, then on the turn for home he opened up,' McCarthy said after the race, 'but I saw the blue silks coming at us and I knew that was the one we were going to have to be concerned about. He ran the best he could and ran a very good race. But the winner ran a better race.' Advertisement Final Gambit charged from last to finish fourth among 19 horses, and trainer Brad Cox said, 'This gives us confidence to try a fast dirt surface in the future.' Mott and Godolphin LLC ownership group representative Michael Banahan expressed the same faith in Sovereignty for his next step. The newest Derby champion emerged briefly on the shed row for media and onlookers, and his handlers felt good about the horse's initial condition. They plan to watch him the next few days before making a decision about the immediate part of his bright future. 'We're just doing the right thing for the horse, what he needs to do," Banahan said. 'He has a big year, hopefully to continue down the road here. There's an awful lot of nice races that you'd like to put on his resume, as well. So, we're just doing the right thing for him.' ___ AP horse racing:
