The fighters’ teams attempted to negotiate a new deal, but Lewkowicz – who represents De Los Santos – says he made the decision, along with trainer Humberto “Chelo” Betancourt, to opt out of the bout in the best interests of his fighter’s safety.

“After three decades in this business, I know that he was ready to fight at 140 and he trained to fight at 140,” Lewkowicz told BoxingScene of Davis. “He never trained to fight or make the weight at 135, and that was the reason [we canceled the fight]. Money doesn't buy health.”

As a result, a 10-round junior welterweight bout between Kelvin Davis (Keyshawn’s brother) and Nahir Albright originally scheduled for the undercard in Norfolk on Saturday will become the bill’s new main event, Top Rank spokesperson Evan Korn told BoxingScene.

At Friday’s weigh-in, Keyshawn Davis admitted to Top Rank commentator Crystina Poncher that he “outgrew” the lightweight division – a subject he has danced around and that has been increasingly speculated.

“I was up late last night, I woke up early this morning trying to make the weight,” Davis said. “I just outgrew the weight. … it is what it is.

“I’m pretty sure he’ll still take the fight. The show must go on.”

It will continue – but not with Keyshawn Davis, nor with De Los Santos. Davis was already staking out a possible fight with fellow up-and-comer Abdullah Mason at Friday’s weigh-in, and he’ll have no trouble finding matches with the best at 140. Even Top Rank chairman Bob Arum intimated that Davis didn’t seem to make an honest effort to cut down for Saturday’s fight, telling Dan Rafael “He never really tried to make 135.”

But the cancellation cost Davis’ intended opponent. Although the Dominican Republic’s De Los Santos, 16-2 (14 KOs), may have been entitled to his full purse after he made weight Friday, he lost a second shot at a title after his unsuccessful challenge of titlist Shakur Stevenson in November 2023. He has been inactive ever since, and now his wait continues.

“I'm his promoter. Without my authorization, there is no fight, OK?” Lewkowicz said of De Los Santos. “He wanted to fight. But I will not allow it. To take a risk for money. … Another opportunity, it will happen somehow, because he deserves it. He deserves to fight for the world title.”

Lewkowicz pointed to Ryan Garcia’s since-overturned win against Devin Haney in April 2024 – for which Garcia blew off making weight, battered Haney in a three-knockdown performance and shortly after was penalized for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs – as a cautionary tale against fighters accepting reworked terms with opponents who come in heavy.

“I hope that people realize the mistake that Haney made against Garcia, and you see the consequence,” Lewkowicz said. “I will not do that. Money doesn't buy me or the health of my fighters.”

Asked to clarify whether he believed Davis blew off making weight because he was already planning to move up to 140 and because he had a negotiating advantage to pressure De Los Santos to stay in the fight, Lewkowicz didn’t hesitate.

“That's correct. Exactly as Garcia did – and Haney paid the price,” Lewkowicz said. “Yeah, he got the money, but … at the end, it was more damage for him.”

BoxingScene senior US writer Lance Pugmire contributed reporting for this story.

Jason Langendorf is the former Boxing Editor of ESPN.com, was a contributor to Ringside Seat and the Queensberry Rules, and has written about boxing for Vice, The Guardian, Chicago Sun-Times and other publications. A member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, he can be found at LinkedIn and followed on X and Bluesky.