Undefeated superstar Keshawn Davis will challenge Ukraine's Denis Perinchyk for the WBO lightweight world title at Madison Square Garden on February 15, live on WBO TV. Sky Sports.
Also among the contenders are Puerto Rican Xander Zayas facing fellow unbeaten fighter Sloa Spomer, and New Jersey-born middleweight Vito Mielnicki Jr., who is looking to take on world-ranked contender Conor Coyle.
Perinchik, who has an unblemished 19-0(9) record, spent nearly a decade in the Ukrainian national team as an amateur, where his teammates included pound-for-pound great Vasiliy Lomachenko and the undisputed king of the two weights Oleksandr Usyk.
He won the European title in December 2022 over the Tyson Fury-Derek Chisora III undercard, scoring a decision over Ivan Mendy.
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Denis Perinczyk defeats Emanuel Navarrete to capture the WBO lightweight title by split decision
Eight months later, he outpointed Anthony Yigit in the Usyk-Daniel Dubois tournament in Poland, setting him up to challenge Emanuel Navarrete for the vacant WBO lightweight world title. The ferocious Mexican warrior stunned last May, scoring a split decision at San Diego's Pechanga Arena.
In his first title defense, Perinczyk will once again play the underdog, trying to derail the Davis locomotive.
“I will not make any big statements or shower my opponent with compliments,” the Ukrainian said.
“I'll just say one thing: Don't relax, buddy! The fight won't be easy for you!”
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Oleksandr Usyk followed and celebrated the victory of his Ukrainian compatriot Denis Perincek over Emanuel Navarrete to capture the WBO lightweight title.
But Davis warned: “This is the opportunity I've been waiting for. Dennis Perinczyk called me, and I answered.”
“What I'm going to do has to be seen to be believed.”
Davis rose to the World Boxing Organization's No. 1 ranking in less than four years as a professional, showcasing the skills that made him the most accomplished American amateur of his generation.
He graduated to 10 rounds in 2023, knocking out Piguet and dominating former European champion Francisco Patera to start the year.
The only blemish on his record — an October 2023 decision win over Naher Albright that was changed to a no contest after testing positive for marijuana — proved to be a minor speed bump.
He stopped former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza in February, and beat Mexican boxer Miguel Madueno in ten one-sided rounds in July.
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Keyshawn Davis was accompanied by a band when he stepped into the ring against Gustavo Lemos at his homecoming in Norfolk, Virginia.
Davis authored the best performance of his career last November, starring Gustavo Lemos in two rounds in front of 10,568 fans at a sold-out Scope Arena in Norfolk.
“Keyshawn Davis has everything it takes to be a great modern-day fighter, but first he must defeat the undefeated, determined Ukrainian champion in Denis Perinchyk. This has all the makings of a lightweight classic in New York City,” said top-ranked promoter Bob. Arum.
“Xander Zayas faces an undefeated powerhouse in Sloa Spumer, an excellent test for our Puerto Rican star as he closes in on a world title shot. And with Vito Mielnicki Jr. taking on undefeated Irishman Conor Coyle, we have an exciting trilogy up our sleeve for the fans.”
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Keshawn Davis vs. Miguel Madueno was a heated match with the referee taking a hit while trying to separate the duo at the end of the sixth round and Madueno pulling off some WWE style moves shortly after.
“Since I was a child, I have always dreamed of making New York City my second home, and it fills me with pride to know that with so much effort and sacrifice, little by little, we are receiving more and more,” said Xander Zayas. “More love from Puerto Ricans from 'The Big Apple'” .
“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.
“I'm going to show that I'm ready to compete for a world title at 154 pounds. I'm not backing down!”
Watch Denis Perincek vs. Keshawn Davis live Sky Sports On February 15th
