Keyshawn Davis is getting his first shot at a world championship belt on Friday, not to mention a chance to prove he actually deserves it.
The WBO lightweight title will be at stake when Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) fights Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) on Friday in a lightweight bout. While Davis is ranked as the WBO’s No. 1 contender, he failed to crack the Top 15 in the most recent rankings from the three other major sanctioning bodies – WBC, WBA and WBO.
A showdown with Berinchyk clearly is the easiest path to a world title in a division stacked with notable champions: Gervonta Davis (WBA), Shakur Stevenson (WBC) and Vasiliy Lomachenko (IBF). But it still could prove to be a challenging path in a bout pitting youth vs. experience.
Both fighters won Olympic silver medals. That’s where the similarities end.
At 25, Davis has shown speed and power and is coming off a second-round knockout of Gustavo Lemos. At 36, Berinchyk has shown savvy cultivated in part during a long amateur career and in his last bout beat Emanuel Navarette for the WBO lightweight championship belt.
He carried it over his right shoulder to a press conference this week.
“That’s my belt,’’ Davis declared.
We’ll soon see.
Keon Davis vs. Ira Johnson results
Round 1: At 6-3, the slender Davis has a striking height advantage over the 5-9 Johnson. And he’s uncorking nasty punches. This is only his second fight, and he’s looking more like a veteran. He’s teeing off on Johnson and lands a big uppercut. Landing punches with force. Davis 10, Johnson 9.
Round 2: Davis digs into Johnson’s body with both hands. Johnson downs on his right knee! He beats and counts but doesn’t look terribly eager to resume fighting. Davis drops Johnson again! This time he doesn’t bother getting to his feet before the referee counts to 10. It’s over! Davis by KO!
Jared Anderson def. Marioas Kollias by unanimous decision
Round 1: Anderson is wearing a pattern with cupids and hearts on his boxing shorts, which look more like a skirt. He throws shots without love, and Kollias responds with his own power. Anderson attacks with his right, and Kollias responds with a barrage to the body and head. Anderson responds but steps into a strong left from Kollias. Kollas 10, Anderson 9.
Round 2: Anderson is out quickly behind his jab. His punches look crisp and he looks in control. Anderson lands an uppercut that catches Kollias’ attention. Anderson slips a big punch from Kollias and makes Kollias pay. Sterling is boxing from Anderson. Kollias 19, Anderson 19.
Round 3: Anderson resumes where he left off. Firing his jab and right. Big swing and a miss from Kollias. Anderson again looks like control. Egad! Kollias’ shorts are falling down. But Kollias isn’t. He lands a couple of hard shorts. The referee pulls up those ill-behaved shorts. Anderson finishes the round with a little flourish. Anderson 29, Kollias 28.
Round 4: Once again, Anderson is out quickly. But with his pants pulled down, Kollias fires back. Unleashes some big punches, but none land flushly. Anderson responds with a crisp jab and throws a big right to the body. Anderson looking to be in control. Anderson 39, Kollias 37.
Round 5: Kollias emerges with authority, unleashing punches rather than waiting on Anderson. Anderson looks more vulnerable now and cautious. Down come Kollias shorts again. Where’s the ringside tailor?! Kollias literally pulling up his shorts while trying to evade punches. Ref hitches up the shorts again. What a wardrobe malfunction. But nothing can protect Kollias from Anderson’s body assault. Anderson 49, Kollias 46.
Round 6: Down comes Kollias trunks again. Kuh-ray-zee. Does anybody in the audience have an extra belt? Anderson suppressed any laughter and suppressed Kollias with that jab. Anderson 59, Kollias 55.
Round 7: Kollias absorbs Anderson’s jab and lands some solid blows. Kollias can’t sustain the attack, and Anderson regains control behind his jab and occasional right. But Kollias gets revved up again and tags Anderson with a shot to the head. Anderson 68, Kollias 65.
Round 8: Both fighters fire early and connect. Kollias lunges forward behind a right and left. Anderson evades the punches. Kollias was willing to eat punches as he moved forward and fired from close range. But Anderson makes good use of his crisp punches. Anderson 78, Kollias 74.
Round 9: Kollias lands a big right. But Anderson absorbs and fires back with a jab and his right. Kollias showing more urgency and unleashing punches. Kollias surges again and Anderson wraps him up. Anderson 87, Kollias 84.
Round 10: Anderson unleashes a stinging left. Kollias bulls forward. Rat-a-tat-tat, Anderson peppering Kollias with that jab and digs in with a left to the body. Kollias wants to brawl, and Anderson hurls Kollias to the mat. WWE, anyone? Kollias finishes the round strong. Anderson 96, Kollias 94.
Final: The 10-round heavyweight bout included a memorable wardrobe malfunction. On at least two occasions, Kollias needed the referee to help him pull up his trunks. But that was the lesser of his problem.
Anderson tattooed Kollias with an effective left jab and was the more skillful boxer.
The judges scored it 99-91, 99-91, 98-92 in favor of Anderson, who improved to 18-1. Kollias fell to 12-4-1.
Carlos Guerra Jr. def. Nico Ali Walsh by split decision
Round 1: Guerra comes out as the aggressor. Ali Walsh fights back with his jab followed by a right. Guerra lands a solid right and Walsh backpedaling now. Guerra applies pressure but with modest power. Ali Walsh lands a combination, and Guerra responds. Guerra 10, Ali Walsh 9.
Round 2: Ali Walsh firing early, but Guerra moving forward now and unleashing punches with body hands. Pounding Ali Walsh in the body. Guerra looks awkward, but now he’s got Ali Walsh against the ropes. Guerra still showing limited power, but he’s landing far more punches. Guerra 20, Ali Walsh 18.
Round 3: Guerra working Ali Walsh’s body. Ali Walsh moving well, but the bad news is he needs to be moving. Ali Walsh looks puzzled and now flat-footed while taking an uppercut on the chin. Guerra 30, Ali Walsh 27.
Round 4: Guerra out firing again and marching forward. Ali Walsh lands a solid left to the body but Guerra looks undeterred. Ali Walsh scores another body shot but in exchange eats a shot and is backpedaling again. Ali Walsh looking for active now, and Guerra’s tank may be emptying. Ali Walsh has drawn blood. Guerra 39, Ali Walsh 37.
Round 5: Ali Walsh fires early, and Guerra simply moves forward. A nice exchange in the corner. Guerra pops Ali Walsh with a crisp jab. The textbook is laughing at Guerra. But the awkward Guerra is laughing back as he stalks Ali Walsh. He lands a solid uppercut, but his face is smeared with blood. Guerra 49, Ali Walsh 46.
Round 6: Ali Walsh lands early, but Guerra continues to move forward. Both boxers landing now. Ali Walsh digs a left into Guerra’s body. Working the head and the body. Ali Walsh coming alive now. Where has this energy been? Guerra 58, Ali Walsh 56.
Final: Walsh, the grandson of Muhammad Ali, looked like a far more distant relative to The Greatest in his super lightweight bout. Ali Walsh spent most of the six-round fight backpedaling against a construction worker from Chicago who lacked technique and pedigree but not heart. Guerra stalked Ali Walsh from the opening bell and wielded an awkward but effective right hand. He finished with blood on his face but as the victor. The judges scored it 56-58, 58-56, 58-56 in favor of Guerra, who improved to 6-1-1. Ali Walsh, 24, fell to 10-2.
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk time
The undercard starts at 5 p.m. ET. The three-fight main card is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET
Where is Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk fight?
The WBO lightweight title fight will get underway at the famed Madison Square Garden in New York.
How to watch Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk fight
The undercard will be streamed on ESPN+. The main card will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+.
Watch Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk boxing with ESPN+
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk card start time
Prelims: 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT (ESPN+)
Main card: 9 p.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT (PPV on ESPN+)
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk fight card
Main Card
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk, lightweight, for WBO lightweight title
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer, middleweight
Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Connor Coyle, middleweight
Prelims
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus vs. Bryan Santiago, junior bantamweight
Abdullah Mason vs. Manuel Jaimes, lightweight
Rohan Polanco vs. Jean Carlos Torres, welterweight
Keon Davis vs. Ira Johnson, welterweight
Jared Anderson vs. Marios Kollias, heavyweight
Tiger Johnson vs. Quashawn Toler, welterweight
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Juan Guerra Jr., middleweight
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk fight odds
All available odds are for moneyline bets (as of Thursday), according to BetMGM.
Main Card
Keyshawn Davis (-600) vs. Denys Berinchyk (+350)
Vito Mielnicki Jr. (-400) vs. Connor Coyle (+275)
Prelims
Abdullah Mason (-1200) vs. Manuel Jaimes (+750)
Jared Anderson (-2500) vs. Marios Kollias (+800)
Nico Ali Walsh (-1200) vs. Juan Guerra Jr. (+600)
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk predictions:
CBS Sports: Davis by unanimous decision.
Brent Brookhouse writes, ‘Berinchyk may find a bit of early success before Davis’ jab starts to dictate how the fight plays out. Once Davis gets rolling, he should fully take over the fight but Berinchyk is likely too crafty to get stopped before the final bell.’
Clutch Points: Davis by decision
Jaren Kawada writes, ‘Davis is coming off an early knockout, one that has him convinced he will do the same to Berinchyk. His power and precision make that possible, but it would certainly be quite a shock.’
Sportskeeda: Berinchyk by decision
Ricardo Viagem writes that Davis is ‘powerful and technical, but can fall into the trap of relying too much on his toughness whenever he finds himself in exchanges. He also has a tendency to be flat-footed.’
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk live stream
The prelims and fight will be available for live stream on ESPN+.
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk price
UFC events are available to ESPN+ subscribers for $119.99 for the entire year. You can also purchase a monthly subscription of ESPN+ for $11.99.
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk tickets
Tickets listed on StubHub Thursday ranged in price from $86 to $565.
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk: Tale of the tape
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