WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk was in no mood to be disrespected during a face-off with rising star Keyshawn Davis. Davis, who’s been boldly predicting a first-round knockout, grabbed Berinchyk’s belt and declared, “This is going to be mine,” prompting the undefeated Ukrainian to shove his fist in the challenger’s face. Both fighters had to be separated before things escalated further.
Berinchyk clearly wasn’t interested in playing head games. He’s taken notice of the trash talk from Davis and plans to make a statement when they meet on Friday, February 14th at Madison Square Garden Theater. The 12-round main event will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN+, capping off a stacked undercard that includes talents like Xander Zayas, Slawa Spomer, Jared Anderson, Marios Kollias, Abdullah Mason, and Manuel Jaimes.
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Davis, a 2020 Olympic silver medalist, didn’t shy away from taunting Berinchyk, insisting he’ll take the WBO belt home and further cement his status as one of boxing’s top young prospects. While critics question whether he can back up that level of confidence against an unbeaten champion, Davis remains adamant he’s capable of finishing Berinchyk in the opening round.
Outside of his looming showdown, Davis talked about the potential of a future matchup with Andy Cruz, stating he believes it can grow into a pay-per-view attraction once Cruz is more established. He also mentioned his brothers, Kelvin and Keon, hinting that all three could eventually hold world titles simultaneously. First, though, Davis must find the way through the toughest fight of his pro career on Friday night.
Image Credit: Top Rank