Gustavo Lemos intends to fight in his lightweight challenge of Keyshawn Davis
Gustavo Lemos stands in the middle of the ring after stopping Javier Clavero – Photo by Nelson Quispe/Boxeo de Primera
Argentina’s Gustavo Lemos has had his share of ups and downs in weight, like many fighters trying to find their footing.
At one time he was the number 1 contender for the IBF belt at 135 pounds and had to give up that opportunity due to not being able to cut weight. But now, after two fights at 140 and a 1-1 record including his first decision loss overseas, Lemos is on his way back to 135, a weight class he says he’s never left, to face rising contender Keyshawn Davis in a 10-round main event. Friday, Nov. 8, at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia.
“I’m a lightweight,” said Lemos (29-1, 19 knockouts) during a phone interview. “In my last fight we were doing well and we were below the division, when this opportunity came to 135 we took it because we knew we would be able to do this weight. I got this opportunity to fight at this stage where I feel strong, and we will make a difference here. I believe that we will be strong in this lightweight fight. Davis will definitely feel the power.”
Lemos returns to the lightweight division for the first time in two years. He last fought at 135 kilograms in March 2022 when he stopped former British world champion Lee Selby in five rounds at Buenos Aires’s Luna Park Stadium in front of his hometown fans. However, it took him more than a year to return to work, amid claims of canceled fights and 135 incompetence. He finally returned in December 2023, stopping Javier Jose Clavero in the opening round and setting the stage for his American debut in April.
Although that fight didn’t go his way, he certainly won more than a few fans with his forward attitude and punching power.
“We did well last time,” Lemos, 28, said of his first-ever win overseas, which came against Richardson Hitchins in April in Las Vegas. “Now that we have information about this, I believe that we will feel at ease. Obviously we’re always in the outdoors, but that’s not a problem for me. When I get in the ring my personality changes 100 percent. I fight the way I would fight in my own backyard.”
The fight against Hitchins was a clincher for the IBF junior welterweight world title, which prompted a reclassification for Lemos, but he is now preparing to drop five pounds to win the official lightweight title and a US Olympic silver medal.
Lemos doesn’t seem happy with those signs.
“I am not the teacher they are playing with, I have never learned anything from my opponents. I know you went to the Olympics, and that you are doing well. You think you are the best in the division, or you feel you will be the best one day. But he’s going to have to get past me first,” said Lemos, who doesn’t see Davis’ height and good reach will worry him.
Gustavo Lemos (left) intervenes in the murder case of Lee Selby (right) in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 26th – Photo by Juan Montani
“I’m used to fighting tall guys. The Hitchins were much taller than me and had a big frame, and punching power. Let’s hope he (Davis) comes to fight, instead of riding the bike in the first few rounds and running away from me. I hope we can give the fans a good show.”
With the tragedy of the Hitchins fight still fresh in his mind, Lemos says he is still focused on this fight as he should be.
“It motivates me to train harder,” Lemos said of his only loss to date. “We are training hard and with a good conscience. We are not stopping, and we are happy that we got another call from Top Rank. I had a lot of support from my family and many people who saw me win, not only in Argentina. Losing doesn’t affect me, it’s just a number on the board right now. Obviously, after a war one thinks about everything we could have done. We were in good shape but Hitchins fought a good fight, that’s all.”
If Lemos is to defeat Davis, he will need to be in the best shape of his life if he truly wants to face the challenges he has in mind for the future.
“We feel that after winning this fight we can follow well-known fights, like (Vasyl) Lomachenko, or (George) Kambosos (Jr.). But we must first take this test,” said Lemos. “First, I have to take care of Davis. After that, conflicts will arise. I just hope it will be a good fight and people are satisfied with the work we are going to do.”
Davis (11-0, 7 KOs), ranked No. 7 by The Ring at lightweight, started the year with a sixth-round TKO of former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza. Five months later, he dominated Mexican striker Miguel Madueño over 10 rounds. Now he is starting to shine in a home match that will feature his older brother, rising junior welterweight Kelvin “Night Night” Davis (13-0, 7 KOs), fighting Yeis Solano (15-3, 10 KOs) in the eighth. – the rounder. Keyshawn’s younger brother, US Olympic Trials champion Keon Daviswill make his debut as a champion in a four-round welterweight contest.
Everything Davis–Lemos card will be broadcast live and exclusively in the US on ESPN+.
Diego M. Morilla has been writing for The Ring since 2013. He has written for HBO.com, ESPN.com and many other magazines, websites, newspapers and outlets since 1993. He is a full member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. and an International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee. She has won two first place awards in the BWAA’s annual writing contest, and is the moderator of The Ring’s Women’s Ratings Panel. He worked as a copy editor for the second season of The Ring en Español (2018-2020) and is currently a writer and editor for RingTV.com.
