Undefeated star Keyshawn Davis will problem Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk for the WBO light-weight world title on the Madison Sq. Backyard Theatre on February 15, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
Additionally on the invoice Puerto Rican standout Xander Zayas steps up towards fellow unbeaten fighter Slawa Spomer and New Jersey-born middleweight Vito Mielnicki Jr appears to be like to upend world-ranked contender Connor Coyle.
Berinchyk, with a flawless 19-0 (9) file, spent practically a decade on the Ukrainian nationwide group as an newbie, the place his team-mates included pound-for-pound nice Vasiliy Lomachenko and two-weight undisputed king Oleksandr Usyk.
He received the European title in December 2022 on the Tyson Fury-Derek Chisora III undercard, notching a choice over Yvan Mendy.
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Denys Berinchyk beats Emanuel Navarette to say the WBO light-weight title by break up choice
Eight months later, he bested Anthony Yigit on the Usyk-Daniel Dubois invoice in Poland, incomes him a crack at Emanuel Navarrete for the vacant WBO light-weight world title. He shocked the ferocious Mexican warrior final Might, tallying a break up choice at Pechanga Area San Diego.
For his first title defence, Berinchyk will play the position of underdog as soon as extra, making an attempt to derail the Davis locomotive.
“I’m not going to make any big statements or shower my opponent with compliments,” the Ukrainian mentioned.
“I’ll just say one thing: Don’t relax, dude! It won’t be an easy fight for you!”
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Oleksandr Usyk watched on and celebrated fellow Ukranian Denys Berinchyk’s victory over Emanuel Navarrete to say the WBO light-weight title.
However Davis warned: “This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. Denys Berinchyk called me out, and I answered.
“What I’ll do have to be seen to be believed.”
Davis ascended to the WBO No 1 rating in lower than 4 years as a professional, showcasing the talents that made him probably the most completed American newbie of his era.
He graduated to 10-rounders in 2023, knocking out Yigit and dominating former European champion Francesco Patera to begin the 12 months.
The one blemish on his file – an October 2023 choice victory over Nahir Albright that modified to a no-contest after a constructive marijuana check – proved to be a minor velocity bump.
He stopped former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza in February and overcame Mexican puncher Miguel Madueno over 10 one-sided rounds in July.
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Keyshawn Davis was accompanied by a marching band as he made his entrance to the ring towards Gustavo Lemos on his homecoming in Norfolk, Virginia.
Davis authored a career-best efficiency final November, starching Gustavo Lemos in two rounds in entrance of 10,568 followers at a sold-out Scope Area in Norfolk.
“Keyshawn Davis has everything it takes to be a modern-day great, but he must first defeat an unbeaten, determined Ukrainian champion in Denys Berinchyk. This has all the makings of a lightweight classic in New York City,” mentioned Prime Rank promoter Bob Arum.
“Xander Zayas is facing a tough, undefeated kid in Slawa Spomer, an excellent test for our Puerto Rican star as he nears a world title shot. And with Vito Mielnicki Jr. facing unbeaten Irishman Connor Coyle, we have a sensational tripleheader in store for the fans.”
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Keyshawn Davis vs Miguel Madueno was a heated match because the referee took a success attempting to separate up the pair on the finish of spherical six and Madueno pulled out some WWE model strikes shortly after.
Xander Zayas mentioned: “Since I was a kid, I always dreamed of making New York City my second home, and it fills me with pride to know that with a lot of effort and sacrifice, little by little, we have been receiving more and more love from my Puerto Ricans from ‘The Big Apple’.
“Combating in entrance of my folks at Madison Sq. Backyard is all the time a terrific honour, and I can not wait to offer them a terrific night time of boxing.
“I will show I am ready to challenge for a world title at 154lbs. I will not back down!”
Watch Denys Berinchyk vs Keyshawn Davis dwell on Sky Sports activities on Feburary 15
