Promoter Sampson Lewkowicz announced Friday that he's amicably parted ways with Edwin De Los Santos and given the lightweight contender his unconditional release following the fallout from the Keyshawn Davis fight last week.

Davis was supposed to defend his WBO lightweight title against De Los Santos on June 7 but came in 4.3 pounds overweight. Davis was stripped of his title on scale, and after hours of negotiations to salvage the fight, the proper terms could not be reached and the Top Rank on ESPN main event fight in Norfolk, Virginia, was cancelled.

Lewkowicz said one of the main reasons for the split was because De Los Santos still wanted to fight, but he didn't allow him because he feared for his health.

"I believe I did him right," Lewkowicz told The Ring. "Sometimes a warrior doesn't understand that his life could be on the line. Davis was most likely going to be around 165 pounds on the night. De Los Santos would be, at most, 147 pounds. That would be suicide."

Lewkowicz said he negotiated with Top Rank for De Los Santos to get 50% of his purse. Sources originally informed The Ring's Keith Idec last Friday once the fight was cancelled that De Los Santos was set to receive his entire purse.

“There was a lot of money involved, but I couldn't take a chance for him to get hurt,” said Lewkowicz. “Davis was so big. It looked like Davis had trained for 140 pounds. He was a cheater. Sometimes the fighter doesn't understand that, either. Time will say I was right.”

Lewkowicz, 74, said he made one of the toughest decisions of his career by leaning on his decades of experience. He referenced the trauma he experienced of being involved in the 2005 fight that ultimately led to Leavander Johnson’s death, and Magomed Abdusalamov’s 2013 fight that left him with severe brain injuries.

Lewkowicz said he even passed on promoting Sergio Martinez’s recent comeback — a fighter he was responsible for discovering and turning into a star — because he feared for the 45-plus-year-old Maravilla’s safety at the time.

“I told Sergio that I couldn't help him because it was wrong and his health was on the line,” said Lewkowicz. “I say all the time that all of my fighters are like my child, and I will keep them safe if I can. I didn't want anything like that to happen to De Los Santos. We ended our relationship on very good terms. We've even talked twice today already and had friendly conversations. I consider him a friend — business is separate. I wish him good luck and will help him with whatever he needs.”