Lightweight boxer Deric Davis believes he will be the last world champion trained by Barry Hunter from the ground up.
Davis fights Friday at the Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, D.C., which will be broadcast on ProBox TV.
Davis, 3-0, 3 KOs, 21, of nearby Fort Washington, Maryland, sees himself as a future star, titleholder, and even as a potential Hall of Famer.
“I want to be legendary, I want to be one of the greats,” he smiled.
The words of trainer Hunter have instilled confidence in Davis.
“He always told me I was his last swansong,” Davis said. “After me, he was going to ride into the sunset. So he always saw something special in me since he started training me.
“At this point, I’m just fulfilling my destiny. If Barry Hunter says I’m special, yeah, I’m special. I know I’m special.”
Davis first met Hunter at the age of eight, after the Lamont Peterson and Amir Khan fight in Washington.
“He saw me fight in the Golden Gloves when I was young. I took a tough loss, and he always told me that if I needed a home, I could come see him.”
A year later, when Davis’s trainer retired, he joined Hunter at the Headbangers Gym. Starting as an amateur at six, Davis began training with Hunter at eight and holds an amateur record of 158-17.
“I feel like anything less than a world champion or a Hall of Fame career is a failure for me,” Davis said. “I have the talent and everything that’s been instilled in me to be a great champion. It’s just about dedication and consistency.”
Though Davis only has three professional fights, with this week’s bout marking his fourth, he believes he will be an emerging talent not just from his region but for the world.
“I feel like I have all the weight on my shoulders,” Davis said. “I have to put on for the D.C. area and carry the torch after Lamont [Roach Jr.]. I want to be a world champion.”
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