Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis delivered an emphatic destruction of 2012 Olympian (and fellow silver medalist) Denys Berinchyk in the ‘small room’ at Madison Square Garden, New York City, Valentine’s night (14 Feb).
Although the Norfolk, Virginia fighter had been arriving over the last two years, this was his coming out performance, finally delivering on that early promise.
At only age 25 and arguably in the most star-studded and deepest division in boxing – lightweight (9st, 9lbs/135lbs)- with the frame to move through the divisions; the world is really the brash, talented and charismatic fighter’s oyster.
As earlier reported on these pages, shades or Sugar Ray Leonard or Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker are recasting over boxing.
Davis, now 13-0 (9 KOs), could be the second coming of either, although clearly having his own personality and style. An orthodox fighter with an outstanding amateur pedigree and Friday winning a first professional ‘world’ title with relative ease.
With an alleged racist grudge going into the fight the brave and tough Ukrainian lost his WBO title in his first defence, and with it his undefeated record.
Berinchyk, now 19-1, 9 KOs, was dropped by a Davis left hook in the third round and, taking further punishment, was finally stopped by a stunning right-left body combo on 1:45 of the fourth. The body shots were Davis’ route to victory hurting him throughout and, Davis also appeared to break the Ukrainian’s nose as blood heavily streamed out some time before the referee’s final stoppage.
Post-fight, ecstatic with his dominant showing and new ‘world’ title, Davis bragged “I want anybody who has the balls to step in the ring and fight me. There are two 135lb champions (likely referring to either Gervonta Davis or Shakur Stevenson as other champ Vasiliy Lomachenko is also a Top Rank Inc. fighter), that I would love to fight. If they have the guts to step in the ring with ‘The Businessman’, tell them to send me a contract, or I can send them one”. Promoted by Top Rank he’s in the right camp to make either of those two fights a reality, and then possibly move through the divisions.
In Manchester, UK Saturday night (15 Feb), a tough contest resulted in Britain’s Jack Catterall, now 30-2 (13 KOs), failing in his attempt to become the WBO mandatory contender at junior-welterweight (10st/140 lbs) losing by split decision (all cards each way 115-113) to Mexican-American Arnold Barboza Jr. (32-0, 11 KOs). It was a fight that was competitive throughout but never really caught fire.
The impressive Barboza, fighting in a hostile away environment, now moves onto world title contention. Catterall must regroup.
The Undisputed 