Keyshawn Davis’ title fight against WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk is being finalized for February 14th at Madison Square Garcia Hula Theater in New York. The theater has a seating capacity of 5,600.

That’s a venue. Keyshawn bragged recently about bringing in a crowd of over 11,000 for his last fight against Gustavo Lemos on November 8th at the Scope Arena in Norfolk, Virginia. This fight being held at a smaller venue suggests that Top Rank wants more attention.

Norfolk isn’t exactly New York City when it comes to attracting worldwide attention. The negative about the event being staged in New York is that if Keyshawn fails, like he did in the 2020 Olympics and how he almost did against Nahir Albright, his stock will plummet.

Mike Coppinger reports that the Top Rank-promoted Keyshawn (12-0, 8 KOs) and Berinchyk (19-0, KOs) are close to having their fight done for February.

The 2012 Olympic silver medalist Berinchyk has recent wins over these fighters:

– Emanuel Navarrete
– Anthony Yigit
– Yvan Mendy

The way Berinchyk schooled Navarrete had to have disappointed Top Rank because they put their bigger name in with him, likely thinking he would win. He got exposed, and now it’s Keyshawn’s turn, and he’s not nearly as big a star as Navarrete.

Promoter Eddie Hearn recently mentioned wanting Berinchyk as a backup option if he can’t get up a fight between WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson and WBA champ Gervonta Davis in 2025. Top Rank has gotten ahead of Hearn and is putting their guy, Keyshawn, in with Berinchyk.

A Fast Track To The Top

The three-year professional Keyshawn, 25, is getting a quick title shot by his promoters without having fought anyone unable to earn the match. He chose not to accept a challenge from his four-time conqueror Andy Cruz of Cuba, who refers to Keyshawn as “My son” due to his many victories. When asked about potentially fighting the 2020 Olympic gold medalist Cruz, Keyshawn dismissed him, feeling he was not on his level.

Interestingly, Top Rank is giving Davis a title shot ahead of Raymond Muratalla, who many fans feel is a better talent and far more entertaining to watch. Keyshawn is a blend of Shakur and George Kambosos with his fighting style. It’s not always entertaining.

“I think he’s more so leaning toward fighting me,” said Keyshawn about Gervonta Davis. “He said in his own words that I look good out there. I look great. It’s undeniable for the world that I am doing. I feel like a Davis vs. Davis headline, that’s PPV by itself.

“I feel like this guy does actually want to fight me. I feel like 2025 will be the year that you will see Davis vs. Davis. Just keep following us. Just keep following our careers. My next fight is a big fight for my first world title.

“Me personally, I still have a lot to prove, but 2025, it should be big for ‘The Businessman.’ I think what impresses the most is with his knockouts,” said Keyshawn about what impresses him the most about Tank Davis. “He has unbelievable power.

“Outside of that, he shows that he has one-punch power to get you up on out of there, but everything else, I’ve seen before, I would say. I feel like I would give him his best fight next. Me, I feel like I’m his weakness,” said Keyshawn when asked what is Gervonta’s weakness.

Berinchyk is a difficult fight for Davis because he is a highly technical fighter, coming off a 12-round split decision win over Emanuel Navarrete on May 18th. If Keyshawn loses this fight, it will highlight Top Rank’s mistake in signing him rather than his conqueror, Andy Cruz, who repeatedly beat him like a drum in the amateurs.

Eyes On Gervonta

“Everything I do, what I’m coming with from my press conferences, from my weigh-ins, from my energy. I’m a younger fighter. My size. I just feel like me in general; how I fight is his weakness,” said Keyshawn about Tank.

“For sure, that’s what we’re going to do. February is the month I would say it’s going to happen. It’s looking like New York,” said Keyshawn about when he’ll be fighting WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk.

“It’s going to be a big year.”

Keyshawn Davis details his plans entering 2025 with @MarkKriegel 👀 #NavarreteValdez2 pic.twitter.com/rDwRwR7FVy

— ESPN Ringside (@ESPNRingside) December 8, 2024