On Valentine’s Day inside The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard, Keyshawn Davis (13-0, 9 KO, 1 NC) earned a present he has labored for his total life: world championship gold. Just a few weeks earlier than his twenty sixth birthday, Davis gained the WBO light-weight championship by knocking out the beforehand unbeaten Denys Berinchyk (19-1, 9 KO) within the fourth spherical.
When Davis landed a vicious left hook to the physique in spherical 4, Berinchyk couldn’t beat the referee’s ten depend. The knockout got here on the 1:45 mark of the fourth spherical. Davis had knocked Berinchyk down earlier with a physique shot within the third spherical.
Keyshawn Davis gained a silver medal on the Tokyo Olympics. He debuted professionally in February 2021 on the undercard of a Canelo Álvarez battle. 4 years later, Davis exhibited the abilities that had many touting him as a future champion as he got here up by the beginner ranks.
Following the battle, Prime Rank chairman Bob Arum known as Keyshawn Davis a sensational younger fighter. Arum added, “You noticed the way forward for boxing tonight right here in New York Metropolis.”
At the same time as a 6-to-1 underdog coming into the battle, Denis Berinchyk was no tomato can. The 35-year-old Ukranian is a proficient fighter who earned the championship by defeating two-division world champion Emmanuel Navarette final yr. However Keyshawn Davis overwhelmed Berinchyk. Davis’s mixture of pace, method, and precision punching was an excessive amount of for Berinchyk.
Keyshawn Davis turned the primary boxer from Norfolk, Virginia, to win a world championship since Corridor of Famer Pernell “Candy Pea” Whitaker. And Keyshawn is considered one of three Davis brothers who’re professional boxers.
The oldest of the three, Kelvin, 28, is a southpaw within the welterweight division. Keon, 23, the youngest of the three brothers, made his skilled debut in November and earned his second victory in as many fights Friday on his brother’s undercard. Standing at a lanky 6 foot 3 inches tall, Keon fought at a catchweight of 150 kilos. In an interview with Mark Kriegel of ESPN final yr, Keyshawn stated he has at all times informed Keon that he had the potential to be the very best fighter out of the three.
Keyshawn Davis is now considered one of 4 champions in an intriguing light-weight division. Vasiliy Lomachenko holds the IBF championship, Gervonta “Tank” Davis holds the WBA championship, and Shakur Stevenson holds the WBC championship (William Zepeda holds an interim model of the WBC light-weight championship).
So what comes subsequent for the brand new champion? Davis had known as out Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and Gervonta Davis. Different matchups that would make sense for Keyshawn Davis are Vasily Lomachenko or William Zepeda.
Some view Cuban Andy Cruz because the skeleton in Keyshawn Davis’s closet. Cruz defeated Davis 4 occasions within the beginner ranks, together with within the gold medal match on the latest Tokyo Olympics. Novice {and professional} boxing are completely different animals, however beating somebody 4 occasions is thrashing somebody 4 occasions. Davis vs. Cruz might be a battle for just a few years down the highway after Cruz establishes himself within the professional ranks.
Davis trains with Brian “Bomac” McIntyre, who additionally trains Terence Crawford and Shakur Stevenson, amongst others. Keyshawn is making good on expectations many observers had for his profession. Having all of the attributes to develop into a celebrity is one factor; placing them collectively and actualizing that potential into outcomes is one other.
An attention-grabbing wrinkle on Keyshawn Davis’s highway to unifying the light-weight division is his relationship with fellow 135-pound champion and stablemate Shakur Stevenson. Davis has by no means entertained a possible battle between himself and Shakur Stevenson. Davis informed talkSport: “No, I’d by no means battle him. It’s positively deeper. His mum is DMing me on a regular basis. I’m about to spar his brother immediately, I do know his total household. I even know his sisters. I’ve recognized Shakur nearly his total life. I do know his cousins. I do know his complete total household so it isn’t even all about Shakur.” It’s admirable that even at a younger age, Davis acknowledges some issues are extra necessary than boxing.
No matter comes subsequent for Keyshawn Davis, he might be a power to be reckoned with in boxing for years to return.
Final Up to date on 02/19/2025
