Olympic silver medalists Denys Berinchyk and Keyshawn Davis will meet for the WBO lightweight title next month at Hulu Theater
As expected, Keyshawn Davis’ first title bout will see him battle WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk atop a February 14th ESPN tripleheader at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater.
Davis (12-0, 8 KO) enters his biggest test to date in peak form, having demolished Gustavo Lemos this past November to cap off a 3-0 2024. Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KO) had a rougher time of it against Emanuel Navarrete to claim the belt, but his amateur pedigree measures up to Davis’ own. It’s a well-matched clash of very skilled technicians and should make for good viewing.
“I’m not going to make any big statements or shower my opponent with compliments,” Berinchyk said. “I’ll just say one thing: Don’t relax, dude! It won’t be an easy fight for you!”
“This is the opportunity I’ve been waiting for. Denys Berinchyk called me out, and I answered,” Davis said. “A new era in the lightweight division begins on February 14th. Be there in person or watch it live on ESPN because what I’m going to do must be seen to be believed.”
In the co-feature, super welterweight prospect Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KO) takes on Germany’s Slawa Spomer (20-0, 11 KO). Zayas barely lost a round in last year’s three-fight campaign, and while Spomer only fought once in 2024, he’d preciously run over undefeated Milan Prat.
“Since I was a kid, I always dreamed of making New York City my second home, and it fills me with pride to know that with a lot of effort and sacrifice, little by little, we have been receiving more and more love from my Puerto Ricans from ‘The Big Apple,’” Zayas said. “Fighting in front of my people at Madison Square Garden is always a great honor, and I can’t wait to give them a great night of boxing on February 14. I will show I am ready to challenge for a world title at 154 pounds. I will not back down!”
Spomer said, “I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this my whole life. It’s time to show the world that I belong at the top of the sport.”
The ESPN broadcast opens with Vito Mielnicki Jr (20-1, 12 KO) continuing his rehab tour opposite Connor Coyle (21-0, 9 KO), who’s still listed as “The Kid” despite being 34 years old.
ESPN+ undercard action features Abdullah Mason, Rohan Polanco, “Tiger” Johnson, Nico Ali Walsh, and reportedly Jared Anderson, though the Top Rank press release doesn’t mention “The Real Big Baby.”
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