Ryan Garcia confronted Keyshawn Davis at a Miami afterparty Saturday night, stepping face-to-face with the undefeated contender and demanding he “face up” in an exchange that immediately went viral across boxing social media.
No physical altercation occurred, but the confrontation served as a loud statement of intent. Garcia, the WBC welterweight champion, has been seeking marquee matchups amid ongoing promotional uncertainty.
Davis, the 27-year-old former WBO lightweight champion, has been publicly targeting the sport’s biggest names since returning from nearly a year-long absence with a win over Jamaine Ortiz in January.
Davis Eyeing a Move to Welterweight
Davis, promoted by Top Rank, has made no secret of his desire to challenge either Garcia or Devin Haney at 147 pounds.
The Miami confrontation gave that ambition a highly public exclamation point. Whether it becomes an actual bout depends on the two fighters’ competing promotional situations — Garcia’s remains unsettled — but the bad blood now has a face and a setting.
Also complicating the picture: Arnold Barboza Jr., who made a dominant welterweight debut of his own Saturday night in Anaheim, addressed Davis in his post-fight interview and indicated he’d welcome the matchup if Davis makes the move up from lightweight.
The welterweight division suddenly has no shortage of fighters calling each other out.
