Keyshawn Davis didn’t hold back after witnessing light welterweight prospect Emiliano Vargas' impressive fifth-round knockout of Larry Fryers on Friday night. The fight, part of a Top Rank card at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, was broadcast live on ESPN, and Vargas received an overwhelming amount of praise from the commentators.
Davis, clearly frustrated, took to social media to express his anger, directing his comments at the attention Vargas was receiving. "I will beat all of their [backsides] on the same night, including the father," Davis said, calling out not only Emiliano but also his brothers and father, the former world champion Fernando Vargas. Davis went as far as suggesting that he could take on the entire Vargas family in the ring.
The 24-year-old fighter’s reaction seemed driven by the glowing compliments Emiliano received from ESPN’s team, including Bernard Osuna, Tim Bradley, and Mark Kriegel. They praised Vargas' power, speed, and accuracy, and many noted that his potential could lead him to superstardom. According to Davis, however, the attention Vargas was getting far surpassed what he had received in any of his own performances.
What remains unclear is why Davis doesn’t have the same energy for his old amateur rival Andy Cruz, who defeated him four times in the amateurs, including in the finals of the 2020 Olympics. Keyshawn’s rivalry with Cruz has been well-documented, yet his focus now seems directed entirely at Emiliano Vargas and the hype surrounding his rise.
Davis’ frustrations boiled over as he continued his rant, emphasizing that despite the Vargas brothers’ popularity, they hold no weight in his "culture." He seemed determined to make it clear that in his view, there’s "no comparison between the Davis brothers and the Vargas brothers," while challenging Top Rank to set up a fight between the two families.
Keyshawn's outburst has certainly grabbed attention, but the bigger question remains: will his words lead to action inside the ring?
Read here about Keyshawn's career.
Image Credit: Sky Sports