During Davis’s run at lightweight, Ortiz believes the pattern of opposition stayed consistent. The matchups leaned toward pressure fighters who moved forward and allowed Davis to operate at his own pace. Ortiz argues that he brings a different look, one Davis did not regularly deal with at 135. Movement. Control of distance. Sustained technical pressure.
The fight takes place January 31 at Madison Square Garden, positioned as the co-feature on a major card. For Ortiz, that placement only strengthens his belief that Davis needed a credible opponent to remain on the show.
“It was me, or he probably wasn’t going to fight on the card,” Ortiz told ATSFight. “I don’t think he had a choice. I don’t think I’d be the guy he’d want as a comeback fight.”
Davis had been targeting a bout with IBF junior welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins, but talks broke down over money. With that option gone, Davis adjusted course, leaving Ortiz as the available opponent willing to step in.
The move to 140 follows a turbulent stretch for Davis. Last year, he failed to make weight for what was scheduled as a headlining fight against Edwin De Los Santos at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. He did not fight that night. Later on the card, tensions flared backstage after Nahir Albright defeated Davis’s older brother, Kelvin, leading to a confrontation involving Keyshawn.
Since then, Davis has spoken about a possible rematch with Albright, a fight Ortiz views as familiar territory rather than a new challenge.
“This isn’t something he dealt with at lightweight,” Ortiz said. “He’s going to find out on January 31. I’m real, and he’s going to feel it.”
Ortiz doesn’t dance around it. Davis might be rebuilding, but in Ortiz’s eyes, this fight happened because there weren’t many places left to turn.
