NEW YORK CITY — Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis was all business three days before a career-defining fight that could propel him to superstar status. Davis will challenge WBO lightweight world champion Denys Berinchyk Friday evening at The Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) and 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, 4 rounds, junior bantamweight
- Abdullah Mason vs. Manuel Jaimes, 8 rounds, lightweight
- 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
- Tiger Johnson vs. Quashawn Toler, 8 rounds, welterweight
- Nico Ali Walsh vs. Juan Guerra Jr., 6 rounds, middleweight
