Robbie Davies Jr. has a young family, but was spending most of his time commuting to and from London to train with coach Shane McGuigan. Something had to change.
Davies faces former IBF junior welterweight champion Sergey Lipinets in a 10-round main event on Wednesday at the ProBox TV Events Center in Plant City, Florida.
The Merseysider (23-4, 15 KOs) is now training with former lightweight champion Anthony Crolla who is based in nearby Manchester.
“Going back home every night, that was what I needed,” Davies said. “Now that I am training in Manchester, I live in Liverpool – I am coming home every night – and as they say a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter.”
Davies said that the time away from home was taking a toll on him and now he feels re-energized to finish his career on his terms. New coach, Crolla, who held the WBA lightweight world title nearly a decade ago, has added his own experience to the team.
“Being with Anthony Crolla, obviously he is a fighter who has been there, done it, and seen it,” added Davies, who is back after surgery to repair an injured ankle. “He knows what it is like to be in the top level. He has been in with the best.”
Lipinets’ biggest fights have seen him come up short. He was outpointed by Mikey Garcia to lose his IBF junior welterweight and was stopped by Jaron “Boots” Ennis. Lipinets last fight saw Michel Rivera outpoint him for a 10-round unanimous decision win. His record now reads 17-3-1 (13 KOs).
In short, this is a must-win for both boxers.
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