Las Vegas - WBO lightweight champion Keyshawn Davis remembers Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker's day walking into the leisure center in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia, to participate in a local boxing event. Davis, who was adolescence, was there to support his brother Kelvin, who was playing in the card competition. Keyshawn, Kelvin and their younger brother Keon (known as DB3 (Davis Brothers III)) dream of leaving the "757" to become the boxing world champion. Following in the footsteps of other local legends in the Hampton Road area, including Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Newport News, it was a challenge as crime rates rise, multigenerational poverty and the city’s lack of affordable housing.

"Because we don't have the resources that other cities have, it's hard to get it out," Davis told ESPN. "If athletes want to get the game from 757, they have to be golden kids."

One of the legends entered the entertainment center.

"(Whitaker walked through the door and all his attention caught his attention." Keyshawn made his final preparations in Las Vegas' top gymnasium on Saturday, fighting Norfolk range Edwin de Los Santos on Saturday.

When the quarter-point champion Whitaker had a final career fight with Carlos Bojorquez in 2001, he only heard the stories and saw enough videos on YouTube to learn about "Sweet Peas" and worship him. So the dream of becoming a world champion becomes tangible when the man is widely regarded as the greatest defensive boxer of all time sitting in the seat next to Keyshawn and watching Kelvin dominate his battle.

“He is watching My brother Fight, "Keyshawn is still incredible at the moment." He was crying, shouting instructions, and I could see that he really liked it. As a younger brother, seeing the boxing legend of our city supporting my brother means the world to me. I look up to my brother, "Sweet Pea" is with he.

"That was the day I realized we got it. We can really fight and we're going to do that."

Whitaker was with the Davis Brothers in the gym, providing them with pointers and teaching them boxing skills before he died in 2019.

Although Davis is the first world champion boxer to come out of Norfolk since Whitaker, he follows extraordinary athletes from the region, such as former NFL quarterback and current Norfolk State chief football coach Michael Vick, NBA ICON ICON ALLEN IVERSON and NFL NFL Sack leader Bruce Smith, among others.

As you watch the battle at Keyshawn, you will see Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander sitting with Vick, Smith and Iverson watching the "Businessman" use his craft. In this field, a group of legends who support themselves are not unique. It is very proud to be a part of this community.

"Support is in our DNA," Alexander told ESPN. "This connection to heritage and family may not be a relative of blood, but a relative, because you are part of the structure of '757'. We won't accept him easily and therefore received unconditional support."

This idea It's not new to appear for athletes. Vick told ESPN that he grew up at the local boys and girls club and once found Smith at the Hampton University football game. He said the witnesses helped inspire his pursuit of greatness, like those before him, Vick prioritized it by supporting Davis in the same way.

"We have to show up in Keyshawn," Vick said. "He is Our Champion, so people like me, Bruce Smith, Mayor Alexander and Allen Iverson have to show up to let the world know how we support ourselves. Now, when he goes somewhere, people know that he has people like us on the network. We will make sure he is OK. ”

Davis made a recent call with Iverson and Vick, during which time he sat down to listen to advice from two athletes in his area who changed the game and advised young fighters.

"They promoted me before the fight," Davis said. "Do you know how crazy that is?"

Vick said Saturday at the Range Arena will be no different from any other Davis fights, as the former is the circus’ number one pick plan.

"We have to cherish these moments to see him," Vick said. "As a city, we have to appreciate these moments because we may never have had a battle at Knight in Norfolk again. He was so good that in the end all his fights would be in Las Vegas."

Keyshawn still has a long way to go before matching Whitaker's success. However, at the age of 26, the Olympic silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he was on the way.

Davis is the latest highly qualified talent in the 757, but he is unlikely to be the last one due to the composition of the region and the commitment of these hometown stars to the community.

"Pernell, who grew up with Keyshawn, grew up not only because of what he did in the ring, but also because of what he meant and still means to the (Norfolk) community," top chairman Bob Arum told ESPN. "(Keyshawn) took the torch from the late 'Sweet Pea' and is now a beloved figure in Norfolk and seven cities. Keyshawn is using his platform to help the next generation of young people and women."

On Wednesday, the city council issued an announcement of the “Keyshawn Davis Week” in Norfolk from June 2 to June 8, with Davis aiming to follow in and out of the ring.

"I always tell myself that I'm going to work in this city, so people know I'm the city and I'm the city," Davis said. "I need people behind me so we can accept it as much as possible."

With Hall Among the prestigious athletes, the region has trained Grammy Award-winning musicians Pharrell, Timbaland, Missy Elliott and the late Ella Fitzgerald. Olympic gold medal gymnast Gabby Douglas, NBA champion Alonzo mourning and comedians Wanda Sykes and Jay Pharoah also represent the region.

"You have a talented furnace, and the secret seasoning is a mix of thought, belief, motivation and perseverance," Alexander said of the region's rich and diverse talent pool. "That's how Norfolk and '757 are different. We trained people are consistent.

Sports are the reason why accomplished athletes like Vick come home to give back. Before taking up a job in Norfolk State in December, Vick made a more lucrative proposal on the other end of Sacramento State. But the three-time Pro Bowl quarterback knows where his heart is and what he needs to do.

“More money involved, but I took all the money home,” Vick said, who set up the Vick Foundation nonprofit in 2006 to support after-school programs in the Hampton Road area. "While some people may think it's a crazy decision, sometimes everything in life isn't all about money. We have people in our community who really care about youth and pour into them."

Giving back is also a huge motivation for Davis, but it is all his success in the ring.

Davis is considered a future-weight fighter who trains with world champions like Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson in a style that is between Crawford's vicious offense and Stevenson's elite technical abilities. Davis builds a fan base by dominating and entertaining.

He only needs four shots to tear apart the previously undefeated Ukrainian fighter Denys Berinchyk to become the world champion in February. He has fought at 140, 147 and 154 pounds and believes his best form is yet to come.

"When everything is said, I will be called one of the greatest people of all time," Davis said. "I may not be the biggest star right now, so a lot of these guys don't want to take the opportunity. I already have the skills and abilities, but once I get to a certain position, they won't be able to escape from me anymore."

Davis has a game-changing tool like his previous game, but Vick's advice is that Keyshawn is aware of everything around him.

"It requires unlimited discipline," Vick said. Vick has faced a series of legal issues throughout his career, including the 2007 Bad Newz Kennels dog fight investigation that led to a 23-month jail and an NFL suspension at the peak of his football career. “People don’t understand the sacrifices we have to make every day to succeed. You can do everything in 30 seconds and mess it up in 30 seconds. Then, that’s what they’re going to talk about.

Davis, who recently became a father, has had great success and said he focused on his goals.

"I told myself that I wouldn't fail," Davis said. "I don't have the pressure to succeed because success is the '757' mentality. Michael Vick is what Allen Iverson has, and that's what Pernell Whitaker has, and that's what I have.