LAS VEGAS – Lightweight prospect Keyshawn Davis battered Esteban Sanchez before the fight was stopped in the sixth round Saturday night.

Davis, a 2020 U.S. Olympic Silver medalist from Norfolk, Virginia, improves to 5-0 (4 knockouts). 

Sanchez, a taller and awkward boxer, gave Davis problems early on as he focused his attack to the body and was crafty in not allowing Davis to connect anything solid in the opening rounds. 

By the third round, Davis’ pedigree and talent appeared as he began finding openings in Sanchez’s guard. Sanchez became more defensive as Davis unleashed a check hook to the head of Sanchez, forcing him to regroup from the punch. Towards the end of the round, Davis connected again with a counter left hook to the head of Sanchez.  

Sanchez attempted to swing momentum his way by letting his hands go in the fourth round, but Davis connected with a variety of punches, including straight right hands and counter left hooks to the head. 

Watch @KeyshawnDavis8 go to work 😤 #ValdezStevenson pic.twitter.com/aCcxk1GFin

— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 1, 2022

By round 5, it was all Davis as he battered Sanchez. Midway through the round, Davis pinned Sanchez in a corner, where he unleashed a barrage of punches that stunned Sanchez. Towards the end of the round, Davis’ punches snapped Sanchez’s head back several times. Sanchez looked as if he was going to get knocked down, but to his credit, he remained on his feet.

Davis went for broke during the following round, continuing to punish Sanchez with several combinations to the head and body. Moments later, Davis pinned Sanchez the ropes, landing at will until referee Robert Hoyle stepped in and stopped the bout at 2:44. 

The 23-year-old is glad he is receiving these challenges. 

“He’s a great fighter,” said Davis of Sanchez. “I figured out that in the opening round. I had to pull tricks out of my bag. My coaches told me to go to the body. This fight challenged me. I felt it was a great performance and I got the stoppage.

“I like getting these challenges. I’m open to the matchmakers at Top Rank in putting these opponents in front of me.”

Sanchez, who is originally from Ensenada, Mexico and now resides in Conroe, Texas, drops to 18-2 (8 KOs).

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing

READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE RING FOR FREE VIA THE NEW APP NOW. SUBSCRIBE NOW TO ACCESS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OF BACK ISSUES.