NEW YORK CITY — Keyshawn Davis is on the verge of the largest second of his profession.
Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) will problem Denys Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) for the WBO light-weight world title this Friday, Feb. 14, at The Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard. The 25-year-old will get his first shot at world title glory towards a fellow Olympic silver medalist decided to carry onto his crown.
The struggle took on a deeply private flip throughout Thursday’s press convention after Davis accused Berinchyk of delivering a field of bananas and a watermelon to his room, an act he deemed racist, whereas Berinchyk dismissed the declare as a manufactured controversy.
Within the 10-round junior middleweight co-feature, Puerto Rican contender Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) seems to be to defend his WBO No. 1 rating towards fellow unbeaten Slawa Spomer (20-0, 11 KOs).
New Jersey-born middleweight Vito Mielnicki Jr. (20-1, 12 KOs) kicks off the printed in a 10-round showdown towards world-ranked Irishman Connor Coyle (21-0, 9 KOs).
Berinchyk-Davis, Zayas-Spomer, and Mielnicki-Coyle might be broadcast LIVE on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
The ESPN+-streamed undercard begins at 5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT and options the professional debut of second-generation Puerto Rican star Juanmita Lopez De Jesus, son of former two-weight world champion Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez, in a four-round junior bantamweight tilt towards Bryan Santiago (1-1-1, 1 KO).
Undefeated light-weight southpaw Abdullah Mason (16-0, 14 KOs) takes on Manuel Jaimes (16-2-1, 11 KOs) in an eight-rounder, whereas Dominican Olympian Rohan Polanco (14-0, 9 KOs) seems to be to edge nearer to a title shot in a 10-round welterweight conflict towards Jean Carlos Torres (22-1, 17 KOs).
Promoted by Prime Rank, in affiliation with K2 Promotions and Queensberry Promotions, tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster.com.
That is what the fighters mentioned at Wednesday’s press convention:Denys Berinchyk
“I don’t converse English, and I don’t write English. I noticed his message on social media. It’s bizarre even to say this. Some folks with dangerous intentions searching for some hype made that.” “The very first thing that you must do is make weight. And afterward, on Friday, we’re going to type it out.” “Since successful my title, I’ve been coaching the complete time. And I used to be getting ready for this protection. Nothing modified an excessive amount of in my life. We now have a warfare in Ukraine. So, sadly, my life didn’t change a lot.” “I by no means imagined myself preventing right here. However I’ve been working onerous for 25 years to make my dream come true and attain this project.” “I’ve 355 newbie fights. I’ve greater than 500 victorious avenue fights. I’ve one bare-knuckle struggle that was additionally victorious.”
Keyshawn Davis
“I need to handle the truth that this man got here to America to offer me bananas and a watermelon with a observe on it. It’s unprofessional, and I really feel prefer it’s racist. And also you simply made this struggle slightly extra private. This man introduced a field of bananas and a watermelon to America to convey to my room. I took it as racist. So, I obtained one thing for you.” “Ya’ll did it. It’s OK that ya’ll did it. I’m going to whoop your ass for it. Simply know what’s coming Friday evening.” “It’s an actual blessing. When he referred to as my identify out after he received his final struggle, I had a sense in my spirit that I used to be going to struggle him for the world championship. I by no means thought it could be at Madison Sq. Backyard.” “You’re not more durable than me. You may discuss all that bare-knuckle stuff. I come from what I come from. I’ve been doing this bare-knuckle s**t outdoors the ring. So, all that s**t you’re speaking about, I don’t care. I’m going to f**ok you up this Friday. I don’t care about none of your expertise or newbie expertise. I don’t care about your silver medal. I don’t even care about your watch, your belt, or any of that. I’m going to f**ok you up on Friday.”
Xander Zayas
“I really feel wonderful. Battle No. 7 right here on the ‘Mecca of Boxing.’ New York is sort of a second house now. I’m excited to placed on a present for the followers as soon as once more and to place the 154-pound weight class on discover. I’m coming for the world title subsequent.” “This implies the world to me. He’s ranked at No. 11 within the WBO for a motive. He’s 20-0 for a motive. He has good victories behind him. However I’m trying ahead to turning into 21-0 on Friday evening and to the nice alternatives coming subsequent in 2025.”
“I’ve been right here since Saturday. We had 10 weeks of coaching camp. I’m one step away from the primary objective. I’ve to beat him to get there, so I’m going to show that I belong on the elite stage.” Slawa Spomer
“I need to present that I belong on the high. Xander can be a high boxer, and I need to climb to the highest. With the intention to get there, you must struggle the perfect fighters on the planet. That’s why I’m right here.”
“Camp with Roy Jones Jr. was wonderful. So, two goals have come true. One was to struggle at Madison Sq. Backyard, and the opposite was to arrange with Roy Jones Jr. The preparation and camp had been excellent. I’ve been within the recreation lengthy, so I didn’t have to be taught the fundamentals. However now, I see various things due to what Roy has taught me. So, I’m pleased with that chance.”
Vito Mielnicki Jr.
“That is thrilling. I’m preventing on the primary card on ESPN, which is one other nice alternative. I really feel blessed to be on this place.” “The objective is to maintain climbing and preventing higher opposition. That is positively my hardest so far on paper. And I’m simply excited to point out what I’ve been engaged on and the way I’ve grown as a fighter. I’m going to placed on a dominating efficiency on Friday.” “That is the whole lot I’ve dreamt of as a child. That is the whole lot I’ve ever wished. So we’re going to reap the benefits of this chance.”
Connor Coyle
“I’ve been searching for massive fights. However I by no means obtained them. It’s not like I used to be ducking or dodging folks. I’ve simply needed to struggle whoever was put in entrance of me.” “I consider that is my alternative now, and I’m joyful that is at MSG.” “You’ll see the perfect model of me. I spent 12 weeks in whole away from my youngsters and household. It was the perfect camp I’ve had, mentally and bodily. I’ve had the perfect sparring. And that is my alternative, so I’ve to seize it with each palms.”
Rohan Polanco
“I’ve moved up in weight, so this camp was extra intense, and I did extra weight coaching. The sparring was intense, too. However for this struggle, I really feel excellent. I’ve lots of expertise. I do know that my opponent has lots of expertise as nicely. I feel that with my boxing abilities, I’ll stroll away victorious.” “My coach, Hector Bermudez, may be very clever. He’s all the time instructing me the best way to adapt to skilled boxing as a result of I had such a protracted profession as an newbie. We now have meshed nicely, and I consider it was an awesome choice for my profession to have chosen him.” “The plan is to maintain successful so I can hold positioning myself till I get a world title alternative. That’s what we’re searching for.” Abdullah Mason “From my final struggle, I discovered to struggle good and ensure I take heed to my nook. Each time I’m tuned into them, the simpler the struggle is. I did stand up and do exceptionally nicely, however I have to struggle good.” “I see myself up there with the fellows who maintain the titles. Talent-wise, I really feel like I’m capable of maintain my very own in a type of fights and are available out on high. However we’re proving ourselves, and we’ll hold taking these steps ahead. Hopefully, we seize a smaller title later this 12 months.” Juanmita Lopez de Jesus “I need to make my folks in Puerto Rico proud, so I’m going to point out what I’m fabricated from and what I convey to the desk. That is positively a unique expertise. I’ve by no means had this sort of consideration earlier than, so I’m very excited.”
Friday, February 14
ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT)
Keyshawn Davis vs. Denys Berinchyk, 12 rounds, Berinchyk’s WBO Light-weight World Title
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer, 10 rounds, Zayas’ NABF & NABO Junior Middleweight Titles
Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs. Connor Coyle, 10 rounds, Vacant USBA, WBC USA & WBO Worldwide Middleweight Titles
ESPN+ (5:15 p.m. ET/2:15 p.m. PT)
Juanmita Lopez De Jesus vs. Bryan Santiago, 4 rounds, junior bantamweight
Abdullah Mason vs. Manuel Jaimes, 8 rounds, light-weight
Rohan Polanco vs. Jean Carlos Torres 10 rounds, welterweight
Keon Davis vs. Ira Johnson, 4 rounds, welterweight
Jared Anderson vs. Marios Kollias, 10 rounds, heavyweight
Nico Ali Walsh vs. Juan Carlos Guerra Jr., 6 rounds, middleweight
*The Tiger Johnson-Quashawn Toler struggle was canceled attributable to Toler being chubby.
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Government Author, Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a ardour for Fight Sports activities and likewise a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s additionally a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer.
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