FRIDAY and Saturday night gave boxing fans a glimpse into the future.
Top Rank’s card featured a number of prospects topped by lightweight contender Keyshawn Davis who showed he is ready for a world title fight.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez were paired together to help sell Matchroom’s latest American event, which saw both produce wins and differing performances. In 2025, these three unbeaten talents could be involved in career-defining fights, but what will come next?
Boxing News looks at the potential options.
Davis demolished Lemos in two rounds.
Keyshawn Davis
The pressure was on the 25-year-old to not only beat Gustavo Lemos on Friday night but to do so in impressive fashion in front of over 10,000 fans at home in Norfolk, Virginia.
The Scope Arena was rocking in anticipation and Davis showed up on the biggest night of his career. Lemos had no answer to the precision and technique of Davis and was done for in two rounds.
Afterwards, Davis called out Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, but realistically, he will need to bring more to the table. Keyshawn, Raymond Muratalla and Sam Noakes are in a battle with William Zepeda to face WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk. Four will become three, however, if Zepeda moves forward with a fight against Shakur Stevenson in February.
Plan A for Davis should be Berinchyk. Plan B could feature George Kambosos or a high-stakes all-Top Rank lightweight eliminator against Muratalla. Kambosos’s price may be too much, and Bob Arum may not pair two future champions against one another. Another alternative, however, could be to call out Frank Martin and bring him to Norfolk, Virginia.
Ennis admitted to being “lazy” against Chukhadzhian.
Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Jaron Ennis
If anyone needs a big fight, it’s Jaron Ennis. After eight years and 33 fights, his best win is against one of a bunch of B-list fighters. His second win against Karen Chukhadzhian was never in doubt, but Ennis failed to light up the Wells Fargo Center.
One argument could be that we will see the best of ‘Boots’ against far tougher opposition. His promoter, Eddie Hearn, told BN there are conversations going on behind the scenes over Ennis moving up to super-welterweight to face Vergil Ortiz. The spite and craft of Ennis against the power and relentlessness of Ortiz could make for a violent confrontation.
Welterweight unifications against Eimantas Stanionis, Mario Barros and Brian Norman Jr are on the agenda, too, but they don’t move the needle like an Ortiz fight does. If Ennis’ time at 147lbs is up then the move to 154lbs could put him in contention for a fight against Terence Crawford if the price is right from Turki Alalshikh.
Once again Rodriguez showed why he is one of the biggest talents in the sport with his win over Guevara. Picture By Amanda Westcott Matchroom Boxing
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez
People are running out of superlatives to describe this wonderful craftsman. And at 24 years old it’s frightening to think what he could go on to achieve. His third-round stoppage against Guevara was another highlight reel finish which has his promoter Eddie Hearn purring about the future.
The number one super-flyweight could clean up at 115lbs and the legacy of Rodriguez should feature an undisputed crown. Phumelele Cafu (WBO champ) and Fernando Martinez (WBA) are two hurdles in the way of that, with the IBF belt currently vacant.
With time on his side, becoming undisputed would also make a potential future fight at bantamweight against Junto Nakatani even bigger.
