Denys Berinchyk and Keyshawn Davis face off 100 stories above NYC
Top of the One World: Denys Berinchyk and Keyshawn Davis face off 100-plus stories above NYC ahead of Friday’s title tussle
Berinchyk-Keyshawn, Zayas-Spomer, and Mielnicki Jr.-Coyle will be broadcast Friday LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+
Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis was all business three days before a career-defining fight that could propel him to superstar status.
25-year-old Davis will challenge WBO lightweight world champion Denys Berinchyk this Friday evening at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Norfolk's Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) and Kyiv's Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) kicked off fight week with a face-off at One World Observatory at One World Trade Center, 102 stories above the packed New York City streets. One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the highest point in New York City.
While the two initially exchanged pleasantries, the tension grew after Davis repeatedly touched Berinchyk’s world title. The two eventually had to be separated and will meet again tomorrow at the final press conference.
No extra security was needed for the co-feature combatants, as Puerto Rican star Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) defends his NABO and NABF junior middleweight straps against fellow unbeaten Slawa Spomer (20-0, 11 KOs).
New Jersey-born middleweight Vito “White Magic” Mielnicki Jr. (20-1, 12 KOs) will open the broadcast in a 10-rounder versus Connor “The Kid” Coyle (21-0, 9 KOs).
Berinchyk-Keyshawn, Zayas-Spomer, and Mielnicki-Coyle will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The ESPN+-streamed undercard (5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT) will feature top contenders and a slew of decorated prospects:
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus vs. Bryan Santiago
4x3 junior bantamweight
Abdullah Mason vs. Manuel Jaimes
8x3 lightweight
Rohan Polanco vs. Jean Carlos Torres, 10x3 welterweight
Keon Davis vs. Ira Johnson
4x3 welterweight
Jared Anderson vs. Marios Kollias
10x3 heavyweight
Tiger Johnson vs. Quashawn Toler
8x3 welterweight
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Juan Guerra Jr.
6x3 middleweight
What have they said?
Keyshawn Davis: “I’m very excited. New York City, that’s my second home. I have family out there, so I’m ready to turn up for them. Madison Square Garden is legendary. And now that I’m fighting for my first world title there, it means even more.
“He’s undefeated, and nobody wants to lose their unbeaten record. He’s coming off his biggest win, which was against Emanuel Navarrete. He also has a lot more experience than I do. And this isn’t for a vacant title. I have to take it from him.
“I’ve never fought his style of boxing as a professional. It’s something new to me in professional boxing. But, if you liked my last fight, you’ll be in for the same treat, a magnificent performance, a hell of a showdown, and something you can’t miss.
“I feel super strong. I feel motivated. I feel locked in. Nothing can steer me away from my goal of becoming a world champion on February 14. I feel great, and I’m ready to put on a show.
“I can only think about my world title. But depending on how crazy I knock Berinchyk out, I’m going to be one of those big names that people are going to want to get in the ring with. I’d be putting myself down if I talk about fighting ‘big names’ because I can become one of those big names on February 14.”
Betting Odds
5/1 Berinchyk
1/7 Davis
First.com pick: Davis by KO 7/4
Prediction
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor: “The champion, Berinchyk, clearly has the advantage in experience, but Davis does have an extensive and successful amateur career of around 90 bouts and multiple national titles to draw from.
“Berinchyk has that fluid Ukraine style, like Lomachenko, but Keyshawn is just so sharp and powerful. The confident challenger has said to place your bets on round one, which is bold. He has never scored a first-round knockout before, but he does have a trio of second-round stoppages.
“I predict Keyshawn to win by KO and become boxing's newest star overnight.”
Did You Know? Both Berinchyk and Davis have won Olympic and World Championships silver medals, but eight years apart.
Original Programming
Blood, Sweat & Tears: Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn: An inside look at both camps as they prepare for their most important showdown to date, with a deep dive into Davis’ path to his first world title opportunity.
Abdullah Mason: Appetite for Smoke: A special feature on rising lightweight prodigy Abdullah Mason, the Cleveland-born uber-talent who is on the precipice of world title contention.
Blood, Sweat & Tears and Appetite for Smoke are available now on Top Rank's YouTube Channel, while new episodes of Top Rank Real Time, a behind-the-scenes look at the fighters and their camps, will premiere every day throughout the week.
Fight Week Schedule:
Wednesday, February 12: Final Presser
2pm ET / 11am PT / 3pm GMT
Streaming live on Top Rank's YouTube, X (Twitter) and Facebook pages
Thursday, February 13: Official Weigh-In
12pm ET / 9am PT / 1pm GMT
Streaming live on Top Rank's YouTube, X (Twitter) and Facebook pages
Friday, February 14: Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Fight Night
Undercard Stream:
5pm ET / 2pm PT / 10pm GMT
LIVE and exclusively on ESPN+
ESPN Broadcast:
9pm ET / 6pm PT / 2am GMT
LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+
