The problem is that Davis has not fought the level of opposition that would justify that comparison.
At lightweight, Davis was consistently the bigger man, often resembling a welterweight after rehydration. His two most notable opponents in the division were Nahir Albright and a 37-year-old Denys Berinchyk. Davis came close to losing to Albright in 2023 and was visibly staggered in that fight. Neither bout represented a step toward elite contention at the weight.
Davis also chose not to accept repeated challenges from Andy Cruz, who holds a 4-0 amateur record over him. That decision was viewed by some observers as an unwillingness to revisit a matchup he had repeatedly lost, rather than a calculated career move based on risk and reward.
It is one thing for Bradley to get excited about Davis beating limited opposition. It is another to project him as a fighter capable of emulating Terence Crawford without seeing him tested against higher-level opponents. Crawford’s career was built on risk, patience, and eventually forcing his way into defining fights. That part of the comparison is missing.
Some fans point out that Crawford himself avoided certain matchups late in his career, including potential fights with Jaron Ennis, Vergil Ortiz Jr., or top contenders at 168 pounds. If the comparison is based solely on selective matchmaking, Davis might fit the model. But that is a narrow reading of what made Crawford exceptional.
“I think the closest thing to Terence Crawford, the closest that has a chance to do what Crawford did was Keyshawn Davis,” Bradley said on his YouTube channel.
Bradley may want to revisit Davis’ fight against Albright and take a harder look at a résumé that remains thin before elevating him to that level. Putting together a flimsy record is something anyone can do. Being carefully managed does not, by itself, make a fighter great.
Bradley has praised Davis’ power, boxing ability, and IQ while citing his Olympic background and physical tools. What he has not addressed is the absence of high-level wins. Davis did not look special in any of his four fights with Andy Cruz, including their final meeting in 2020, when Cruz controlled the fight.
Below is footage from the 2020 Olympic gold medal bout between Keyshawn Davis and Andy Cruz, included for comparison.
If there is a fighter from that rivalry who more closely resembles Crawford’s trajectory, it is the one who won every time. Until Davis proves otherwise, the comparison remains unproven.
Comparisons to all-time fighters tend to surface early in a prospect’s career, especially when broadcasters are invested in the outcome. They fade just as quickly when the matchups do not follow. Until Davis steps into fights that carry real downside, the Crawford comparison will continue to look more like a projection than proof.
