Bob Arum has made a bold statement about Keyshawn Davis, calling the unbeaten WBO Lightweight Champion “this generation’s Sugar Ray Leonard.”
Davis is set to defend his title next against Edwin De Los Santos as he continues his rapid rise through the lightweight ranks. The 13-0 fighter earned the belt with a knockout win over Denys Berinchyk. Keyshawn has already fought four times since the start of 2024—proving himself as one of boxing’s most active champions. Keyshawn has been linked to several high-profile future bouts, including a fight with Lamont Roach Jr.
Meanwhile, Leonard is considered one of the greatest boxers in history. As a five-division world champion, Leonard captured titles from welterweight to light heavyweight, cementing his legacy. He was also the first fighter in the sport to earn over $100 million. While that is a lot to live up to, Arum expects Keyshawn to fulfil his potential.
“I think it’s a really good fight. The kid’s gonna keep getting tested. But, you know, in my estimation Keyshawn Davis is this generation’s Sugar Ray Leonard. He’s that good. And he fights the same type of style. In other words, he’s very, very quick, has very good defense, but also is an offensive fighter. You know, I’ve always been very high on Keyshawn. And this is another test for him.
“He realizes that not only is boxing important, it’s entertainmen. And so, he’s become a much more entertaining fighter. He’s much more aggressive and he uses his defensive skills. But the offensive skills are what people love and what he uses to take out his opponents,” Arum said
For Keyshawn to reach those levels, he will have to win titles in multiple weight divisions. He has spoken previously about wanting to fight at 140 pounds. There is the opportunity to face off against big names in that division, such as Teofimo Lopez. The Takeover holds the WBO Junior Welterweight Title. There are also other big fights available, such as against George Kambosos Jr., the former unified lightweight champion.
Equally, there is the IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Richardson Hitchins. Keyshawn has also stated that he might move up to 147. There are potential big fights available for him against the likes of Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, Jaron Ennis, Mario Barrios, and Brian Norman Jr., to name a few. While those are realistic names, it also depends on whether Keyshawn moves up and whether those fighters still remain there.
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The NBA's summer leagues have quickly come and gone, and if there has ever been a truism about the showcase for rookies and other league longshots, it is this: Let what happens in summer league stay in summer league. For Lakers second-year player Dalton Knecht, that's certainly the hope. After struggling in the California Classic in San Francisco to start July, Knecht and the Lakers went to Las Vegas and there, the former No. 17 overall pick failed to turn around his fortunes. Knecht averaged 10.3 points in three games, shooting 27.9% from the field and 23.8% from the 3-point line. That showing, combined with a streaky rookie year (9.1 points, 46.1% shooting, 37.6% 3-point shooting) has left Knecht's future with the Lakers in some question. In fact, Jovan Buha of The Athletic noted this week that Knecht's stock has plummeted. Lakers Losing Value on Dalton Knecht? Remember, many considered Knecht to be a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA draft, but he fell all the way to the Lakers at No. 17, primarily on concerns about his age (he turned 24 in April) and defense. When the Lakers were set to trade Knecht in a package for Mark Williams of the Hornets last February, along with a future first-round pick, it was seen as the team giving up two first-rounders for Williams. But Buha said in his podcast that Knecht would not eb considered a first-rounder anymore. "Summer League has not helped Knecht's stock, and I don't think at this point he is valued as a first-round pick, in terms of an asset valuation," he said. "That was what I heard in Vegas from talking to multiple people, non-Lakers people, just gauging what would you give for Dalton Knecht? Or if the Lakers are putting Dalton Knecht in a trade, what is he worth? And the feedback I got was, no longer worth a first-round valuation." Dalton Knecht 'Can Shoot, He Has Value' But asked about Knecht's value, one Eastern Conference GM said that the summer did not change anything. "He is a shooter, and he has shown he can shoot," the GM said. "He needs to show he can do something else to get and stay on the floor, for sure. But his value has not gone anywhere, not based on a few summer games. Once you're drafted, it does not matter, no one is thinking of you as, 'You're a first-round pick, you're not a first-round pick.' It's what you can do to help us win. "Knecht can shoot, so that's his value. He rebounds his position. If he can be a better passer, and not be a big minus defensively, he is going to have a nice NBA career."
The Golden State Warriors have had an underwhelming offseason thus far and the main headline surrounding the franchise remains the future of young forward Jonathan Kuminga. Kuminga remains a restricted free agent and after falling out of Steve Kerr’s rotation last season, his role entering next season is up in the air. Due to this, many believe that Kuminga’s time in Golden State is set to come to an end this offseason but the young forward is still deciding on what his next move will be, which will also be reliant on the Warriors due to them likely having to move him in a sign-and-trade deal. With Kuminga’s time in Golden State likely nearing an end, Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell and Rohan Raman recently came up with a three-team mock trade that would send Kuminga to the Phoenix Suns. In the trade, the Suns would receive Kuminga and Moses from the Warriors and they would send Grayson Allen, Royce O’Neal and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick to Golden State. The Atlanta Hawks are the third team in this mock trade and they would acquire Nick Richards from Phoenix. This would be an interesting move for the Warriors as they would not only be moving on from a young player in Kuminga, but Moses Moody as well. Despite this, adding a sharpshooting guard in Grayson Allen, who also excels on the defensive end, could be a massive boost that the Warriors need. O’Neal would also give the Warriors a solid scorer and defender at the forward position that would allow them to upgrade their bench. By making this move, the Warriors would get older as they would swap two young players for two veterans but the additions of Allen and O’Neal, along with potential free agent signings, could help them compete for a title next season with Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Jimmy Butler leading the way.
It seems like it might be a little longer before Deion Sanders can join the rest of his Colorado coaching staff. In a video recently posted by his son, Deion Sanders Jr, the NFL legend admitted that he's not yet fully recovered from his undisclosed health issue. “You know I’m still going through something,” the head coach said. “I ain’t all the way recovered.” Almost two weeks ago, Sanders took the stage at Big 12 media day, but he didn't want to address his health issues. “I’m not here to talk about my health,” Sanders said. “I’m here to talk about my team.” According to the Athletic, Sanders, who's recovering in his home in Texas, has been in close contact with his coaching staff. Colorado athletic director Rick George also said that Sanders would "probably" report to campus within the next two weeks, per the Athletic. The former Super Bowl winner has a long history of health concerns. He had two toes amputated in 2021 because of blood clots, and he went under the knife again in 2023 after reportedly dealing with some excruciating pain. The Buffaloes are transitioning into the post-Shedeur Sanders/Travis Hunter era and looking to build from last year's 9-4 record and big win at the Alamo Bowl.
HENDERSON, Nev.—Standing high above his perch overlooking the field, Owner Mark Davis watched Pete Carroll’s first practice of his first Las Vegas Raiders Training Camp. As your Las Vegas Raiders Beat Writer On SI, I was here, and this is what stood out to me. Please note that I will be commenting on any specific information that could harm the Raiders strategically, should their opponents process it. For that reason, I will, in some cases, speak very generally. The Offense: The teams are not wearing pads, but even without them, it was clear that rookie Ashton Jeanty is different. · What stands out to me is that he is a physical player, and even without pads, it shows. Usually, the physical players don’t look as good early, but that is not the case with him. · His football movement and lateral leverage was nothing short of amazing, and his ability to catch the football was surprising. · He is trying to send the message early that he is a complete back, and he doesn’t need to come off the field on any down. · His teammates are excited to watch him in pads, and so am I. · I watched nearly every rep that he had over the last two years at Boise State, and I had no clue he could adjust his body to the ball and catch like that. · I will not be shocked to see him becoming a significant part of Chip Kelly’s passing game. · What contract issue 1.0? Kolton Miller appeared to be in the best shape I have ever seen him in, over the past six years. This monster of a man looked strong, but he was in super condition, and it was great to see him healthy. · You would have had no idea that he was entangled with the Silver and Black over a new deal, because he acted like the Kolton Miller his teammates and fans love. · He was helping the young guys and encouraging the veterans while maintaining his high standards of effort and play. LTs in the NFL are worth their weight in gold; those as good as Miller, and as impressive of a human as he is off the field, are unicorns. · A terrific player, an even better person. · What contract issue 2.0?? Unfathomably, the Raiders have another veteran player with plenty of wear left on the tires heading into training camp. · WR Jakobi Meyers, like Miller, was out there today helping the young WRs, playing tough and setting a standard of expectation. · Jakobi didn’t drop a ball last year and is a reliable weapon with sure hands. He, like Miller, looked like he picked up at training camp, having never missed a beat from 2024. · Rookie Caleb Rogers, I thought, was okay during OTAs and Minicamp, today, he looked comfortable. He looked good to me, but today he looked the part. He showed some nasty (even without pads), and that edge is what got him to the NFL; it seems like he's found it. · I loved him in college, and have liked him since he arrived in Las Vegas. Today, he looked like what I saw in school. That is fantastic news for the Raiders. · Laki Tasi is new to American Football, and while he still has to get his body in American Football shape, he looks the part. He isn’t ready for the 53-man roster, but I will be stunned if he doesn’t make the practice squad and he has a future in this league. He looked far more comfortable today than he has all year, and I have been impressed. · Qadir Ismail shined in the OTA and minicamp portions of the offseason. · I have written and discussed Ismail extensively, and he has earned praise. · I have reported that I expected him and Ian Thomas to battle for the third TE spot, but some in the organization think if the play of both men continues at the level it has been, the Raiders could very possibly carry four tight ends. · Both Thomas and Ismaill showed up today in big ways. · Thomas ran a perfect route, showing some impressive speed and route running that culminated in a 55-yard strike for a touchdown from Aidan O’Connell. · Ismail, who is a monster at 6’5” and 245#, lined up, and I had not previously seen his vision like I did on this play. · As he surveyed the field, I took note that he looked like a QB reading coverage. He flipped his hips on a moving defender and made a block that won’t show up on highlights of fans, but will stand out when coaches are reviewing film. · All four of the Raiders' TE look impressive, but camp is long, and guys have to maintain this when the pads come out. · Aidan O’Connell was NEVER out of shape, but he looked like he was in fantastic shape. His body was toned, and he flew through drills with ease. He showed some today that I had not seen, and while there is ZERO QB controversy at QB1, there is ZERO QB controversy at QB2. · Geno Smith looked as cool as the opposite side of the pillow on a hot summer night today. He is a solid veteran who knows how to lead and when to lead. · I watched a veteran who made a mistake, and Geno said nothing, and when a rookie made one, he walked over and his countenance changed. · You can’t fake leadership, and one thing that I respect about Geno is that there is nothing fake about him. · He spoke today about Jackson Powers-Johnson coming to Miami to join him after he signed with the Raiders. · Geno joked about JPJ and Maxx Crosby being joined at the hip, but this team has that camaraderie that special teams do. · Make no mistake I don’t think this is a Super Bowl team, by any imagination, but they are building something special, and that is evident. · Geno Smith is so comfortable already in this offense, and the ball floats effortlessly off his hands. It is impressive. The Defense · Jamal Adams may be one of the newest Raiders, but I watched him closely today. To be honest, I didn’t see a lot, which I didn’t expect since he just signed yesterday. But towards the end, I was standing with my buddy Q Meyers from ESPN, and he made a play in which his speed was very evident. If he is healthy and his speed is there, he can be another Swiss Army Knife for Patrick Graham. · Maxx Crosby looked like Maxx Crosby. He reminds me of one of those guys you hide in a case and only let come out on game day. Even without pads, he was everywhere, doing everything. · I have sung the praises of S Jeremy Chinn since he signed, but I feel like I haven’t said enough. He looked like a coach on the field today. He is impressive. · Isaiah Pola-Mao has grown before our eyes from a kid to a man. He may not be the most vocal player on this team, but he doesn’t have to be. What he is, is a respected person, and it started with his play and has been maintained by his character. · One player that stood out was Malcolm Koonce. · Koonce bet on himself this offseason by coming back to the Raiders, and today he maintained the emotion he showed all offseason, and looked like he couldn’t wait to get pads on. · Koonce and Crosby are going to have a significant 2025. The Intangibles · I enjoyed being in California last year. With that said, the weather was perfect today, and it was great to have the Raiders fans back. · There were a fair number last year, but the complaints of NFL (California) teams limited the fans who could attend. Not today. · It was nice for the Raider Nation to have the team home, and I can tell you the fans made their presence felt. · The players felt their presence and their energy took the practice up, in the words of the great Cajun Chef Emeril Lagasse, “Another notch.” We'd appreciate it if you would follow us on X @HondoCarpenter and IG @HondoSr , and let’s talk about the Silver and Black’s training camp.
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