It’s become clear that Keyshawn Davis has no interest in taking the slow and meticulous route on his way up the pugilistic ladder. Instead, the 23-year-old from Norfolk, Virginia, has continued to point a daring finger in the face of the lightweight division’s elite.

After yet another banner year, one that included victories over Esteban Sanchez, Omar Tienda Bahena, and Juan Carlos Burgos, Davis (7-0, 5 KOs) has concluded that he’s just about done with facing fighters who reside at the bottom of the barrel. While his 2023 schedule hasn't been revealed just yet, the former Olympic silver medalist has one name in particular that he would love to swap fists with.

“Jeremiah Nakathila, that’s the fight that I want,” said Davis to BoxingScene.com. “His last fight, he beat the hell out of (Miguel) Berchelt. Tell Jeremiah Nakathila wassup, I want to fight him.”

Nakathila, as mentioned previously by Davis, made the decision to move away from the super featherweight division. In his first fight at 135 pounds, Nakathila (23-2, 19 KOs) was thrown into the deep end against Miguel Berchelt. Anxious to make his own statement, Berchelt confidently stepped into the ring on March 26th, 2022. But while he grinned from ear to ear, Nakathila ultimately wiped the smug look off his face.

After sending the former champion crashing down to the canvas in the third round, the 33-year-old violently ended his night in the sixth. Having watched the wiry strong contender dissect Berchelt mercilessly, Davis concludes that the move up in weight has done his advisory some justice.

“I feel like he’s even more dangerous now because he moved up to 135. He’s most likely feeling way better at that weight, way stronger at that weight, way more confident at that weight.”

At this stage in his career, with only a handful of fights, Davis understands why the boxing public doesn't consider him a true contender at 135 pounds. In his eyes, however, Davis has grown sick and tired of being labeled a mere prospect.

So, with Nakathila becoming obtrusive on his championship quest, Davis believes that once he takes care of business against him, the questions surrounding his mettle will finally come to an end.

“After I f--- him up, there ain’t gonna be no ifs, ands or buts of ‘oh Keyshawn world title this, world title that.’”