Junior lightweight world titleholder Gervonta "Tank" Davis, the Floyd Mayweather protégé and the second-youngest active fighter in boxing to hold a major belt, at age 22, will make his first defense against mandatory challenger Liam Walsh.
Davis and Walsh will meet on May 20 at the Copper Box Arena in London, promoter Frank Warren announced at a news conference Tuesday.
Warren and Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe ironed out a deal in recent days for Davis to go overseas for the fight as they avoided a purse bid.
"I always wanted to come to the U.K. and fight," said Davis, who was joined by Mayweather and Ellerbe at the news conference. "Many of my fans are based [in the U.K.], so I'm just excited that they will be able to come see me fight in their own backyard.
"Liam Walsh is a tough contender, and I'm hoping he brings it. I will be well-prepared for whatever he does, and believe me when I say that I will put on a great show."
Davis did just that on Jan. 14 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he took a major step up in competition and pummeled Puerto Rico's Jose Pedraza in an exciting seventh-round knockout victory to win the 130-pound belt on the Badou Jack-James DeGale undercard.
With his first defense on tap -- and looking forward to a likely second defense in his hometown of Baltimore if he wins -- Davis (17-0, 16 KOs) said he has no intention of being a one-hit wonder.
"That IBF belt is very happy at home with me and it will be staying with me for a long, long time," Davis said. "To all the people that have been messaging me positive things on my social media, thank you. Keep supporting me and I'll fight for you."
Former British junior lightweight champion Walsh (21-0, 14 KOs), a 30-year-old southpaw from England, became the mandatory challenger for Davis' title in October when he rolled to a near-shutout decision win against Russia's Andre Klimov. Davis is far more dangerous puncher and more dynamic fighter than Klimov.
"This is a serious fight," Walsh said. "He is going to bring his best on May 20, and I'm going to bring mine. He is a very good fighter and I'm a very good fighter. May the best man win. I 100 percent believe that is going to be me.
"I've waited a long time for this opportunity and I'm ready to seize my moment and win a world title. Years of hard work in the gym has got me to where I am today and I'm not going to waste this golden opportunity."