Keyshawn Davis and Denys Berinchyk nearly fought last year before Berinchyk opted to take a fight in Poland instead of a bout against the 2020 Olympic silver medalist.
That worked out well for Berinchyk, who parlayed the victory into a WBO lightweight title shot that he won Saturday night by upsetting three-division champion Emanuel Navarrete of Mexico by split-decision in San Diego.
In the ring afterward, among the names mouthed by Berinchyk when asked who he’d be willing to fight next was Davis (10-0, 7 KOs), who is currently training for a July 6 card in New Jersey headlined by another possible Berinchyk foe: WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs).
“Me and Berinchyk would be exciting because he likes to fight, I love to fight as well,” Davis told BoxingScene Monday. “Fighting for the title would make me naturally more aggressive. It’s going to be a fan-favorite firefight. When I posted about it, I got a lot of good reaction from the fans, so I think they’re excited. We should make it happen this year.”
By scores of 115-113, 112-116 and 116-112, Berinchyk, 36, edged a lackluster Navarrete, who was slow to get started and often flung reckless punches rather than the powerful, targeted blows that made him a three-division champion.
Both Davis and three-division champion Stevenson expressed social-media appreciation to Berinchyk for the rarity of calling them out.
Although Stevenson, 26, and Davis, 25, are headed to separate fights in the main event and co-main of a July 6 ESPN card in Newark, N.J., Davis said he believes he’d make a better fight than the defensive-minded fellow silver medalist.
“I’ve got the abilities, the skill, the strength, the power, the IQ,” Davis said. “I’m a complete fighter. Smart fighter. I like to mix it up with you. My mentality is it’s never boring in the ring. Berinchyk will bring the best out of me – fighting for my first title. Now that he’s got a title, we’re going to double back.
“I’m a rising star in this sport. I’m undeniable. A great talent. I feel like no one can deny that now. They can say I’m inexperienced. That’s just obvious. That’s why I’m here. That’s why I’m calling for that world-title fight right now. I’ll give the fans what they want: a new star in the sport so the sport can keep developing. I feel like me and Berinchyk is a great fight.”
Stevenson may be occupied with the other Ukrainian lightweight champion in the division, anyway. Vasiliy Lomachenko, the three-division champion who claimed the IBF lightweight belt May 11 by knocking out former champion George Kambosos Jr. in the 11th round in Australia, is expected by next month to start mulling his next career move.
Davis last fought on February 8, when he stopped former two-division champion Jose Pedraza by sixth-round TKO.
On the Newark card, Davis meets Mexico’s Miguel Maduneno (31-2, 28 KOs).
“The fighter I am right now, I feel like I’m ready for the championship fight if it was next,” Davis said. “I feel I have the skill to become a champion. Every fight, I’ve learned something new. The Pedraza fight, it was one of the first fights where I felt 100 per cent healthy.
“It showed me who I am and what I’m capable of. By staying focused outside the ring and staying healthy, it showed what I can do. I can only get better from here.”
The chance to join Stevenson, Gervonta Davis and Lomachenko as world lightweight champions is “definitely possible and we’re like this,” indicating being equally competitive.
First for Davis is the July 6 ESPN card.
“I can’t wait to perform. I love fighting,” Davis said. “It’s opportunity, and you can’t take opportunity for granted. The sport is just waiting for us to perform.”
Davis’ brother, Kelvin (12-0, 7 KOs), is additionally on the July 6 card against Kevin Johnson (12-3, 8 KOs).
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