Promoter Eddie Hearn claims former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhiy Bohachuk is “tailor-made” for his fighter, Eichel Davis, in the 12-round main support fight on Turki Alalchik’s card in Riyadh. Bohachuk takes on Davis in the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 match at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Bohachuk vs. Davis
The Bohachuk-Davis fight is viewed as the best on the undercard, but that may not be the case if Davis performs as he did in his loss to Josh Kelly and in his previous fights. Ismail is what you call a “punch and hold” fighter. He throws one-shots, then falls into a clinch and grapple. It's not entertaining to watch.
Hearn stated that although Davis (13-1, 6 KOs) lost his last fight to Josh Kelly by 12-round split decision on September 21, Bohachuk's “direct” style suits him better, and he believes he can win.
The muscular 29-year-old Ismael has a low striking style where he follows his opponents around him, delivering a powerful jab, then a uppercut followed by a clinch. This pattern is repeated over and over without change.
He does a lot of grabbing and clubbing in the clinch. It's an ugly style. He backed down when he was attacked in Shakur's style, and fights ended in low production due to his constant movement and contraction. Surprisingly, Davis is being used as a replacement opponent after Israel Madrimov pulled out of the fight. Turki should have found someone to make it entertaining given the amount of grabbing and moving from Ismael.
For a PPV card, having Ishmael Davis in the co-feature is toxic. He has absolutely no chance of beating Bohachuk. This isn't even up for debate. Davis would lose to Bohaczuk's last four opponents. The catch is that a quality opponent is being used in Bohachuk due to the high card visibility, and Davis is absolutely terrifying to watch between the jab, grab and move style he uses.
Hearn says Ishmael Davis can win this fight and become the WBC mandatory for champion Sebastian Fundora. It doesn't happen, but you can't blame Hearn for going to fight him. Davis can't win this fight or beat any of the top 15 contenders. His loss to Josh Kelly last September says enough about him. Throw Ishmael in with one of Bohajok's recent victims, Brian Mendoza, Patrick Allotey, or Nathaniel Gallimore; He doesn't win against any of them.
When Davis approached Kelly, he would throw a punch and grab. It was either that or back down when Kelly, not a big player, attacked him.
Ishmael Davis' circular IQ is non-existent, and his style is boring in the extreme. He fights like he doesn't have any sense in his head. Not thinking about the ring. If that was Hearn's choice, he would have spoiled my Turk.
The entire undercard is terrible, but Davis makes it worse. Bohachuk is the only good thing on the undercard, but he's up against a bigger version of Shakur without his skills and more of a playoff spot.
Hearn's claim is “tailor-made”.
“This is another level in terms of this kind of opposition,” Eddie Hearn said. Boxing in the match hall Ishmael Davis goes from a close 12-round split decision loss to Josh Kelly to now facing former interim WBC junior middleweight champion Serhiy Bohachuk on Saturday night in Riyadh.
“Even though Josh (Kelly) is a good fighter, (Bohachuk's) style is different. Josh Kelly's style didn't really suit Ishmael Davis. This style of Bohachuk is actually tailor-made for Ishmael Davis, but he's world-class.”
“So, I look at it this way. “First and foremost, it’s a payday you can’t refuse,” Hearn said of Ishmael Davis’ fight with Bohachuk on Saturday night. “Number two, I like your style. Number three, you’re a fighter.” High quality.
This is a surefire payday for Ishamil Davis who will face Bohachuk in the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 co-fight in Riyadh. Davis will get paid well, but it's not a fight he can win.
“On your night, you can compete with anyone. Number four, if you beat this kid (Bohachuk), you'll be mandatory for (WBC junior middleweight champion) Sebastian Fundora, and you'll get a seven-figure payday (over a million dollars). So, let's have it. “That's how I look at it,” Hearn said of Davis.
On Ismail's best night, he might get lucky and win a decision against a fringe opponent because he has a way of neutralizing his opponents' offense by throwing them and catching them immediately. With this punch-and-hold style, it is difficult for fighters to shoot before Davis catches them. A good referee would punish Davis if he used this style all night because he uses that to stop the fight, but he can't beat a world-class fighter like Bohachuk using this negative style.
“It's not about courage. It's about intelligence, nepotism and strategy, and that's everything that goes along with this decision (Davis fights Bohachuk),” Hearn said of Ismail. “We're not throwing away some world-class English champions. Ismail has the potential, and I think he has already reached the British and European level. “He has the ability and potential to be a world-class fighter,” Hearn said of the 29-year-old Davis.
“Imagine if he did that. He's right against that, but the style. Bohachuk is a straight line. He's relentless. He's a very good fighter, but I can't wait for this fight,” Hearn said.
Davis is not going to win this fight, even with his dominance. Bohachuk is going to pin Davis when he dives forward to grab the clinch, and he's going to get hurt. Bohachuk will have to be aware of all the grabbing and wrestling that Davis will do because he will have to fight to grab shots.
Davis will use this as his main defensive tactic, as he unsuccessfully tried to do against Josh Kelly. Bohachuk is going to hurt Davis with something and knock him out at some point in this fight.
