Keyshawn Davis dominated Denys Berinchyk to win the WBO lightweight title at Madison Square Garden’s The Theater on Saturday in New York. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
It was a Valentine’s Day to remember for Keyshawn Davis.
The Norfolk native knocked out Denys Berinchyk in Round 4 to capture the WBO lightweight title in front of a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden’s The Theater on Friday night in New York.
After a heated fight week during which Davis (13-0, 9 KOs) claimed Berinchyk’s team sent a racist package to his hotel room, Davis was in control from the opening bell. He held the center of the ring and forced the much smaller Berinchyk (19-1, 9 KOs) onto his back foot. Berinchyk tried to make the contest scrappy and uncomfortable for Davis, but “The Businessman” remained calm behind his jab and fired occasional right hands to Berinchyk’s head and torso area, almost all of which were landing.
Davis put Berinchyk on the canvas in Round 3 with a left hook to the body. Although Berinchyk didn’t look hurt and jumped straight back to his feet, it was a big breakthrough for Davis, who now fully knew he was firmly on top in his first world title fight. Davis continued to dominate the action heading into the fourth. Berinchyk looked constantly off balance and outclassed by Davis, so it came as little surprise when Davis landed the left hook to the body again in Round 4. This time, however, the impact was much more devastating, and Berinchyk ultimately sat out the count on one knee.
It was an easy night for Davis, 25, in the end. Berinchyk was never really in the fight, whether due to the size advantage Davis possessed or an insurmountable skill gap.
Davis indirectly called out WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and IBF titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko in his post-fight interview.
“Anybody that got the balls to step in the ring to fight me, tell them come on,” Davis said. “Anybody. There’s two 135-[pound] division champions that I would love to fight. If they got the guts to step in the ring with ‘The Businessman,’ tell them send me the contract, or I’ll send them one.”
Check out the full Davis vs. Berinchyk results and Uncrowned’s play-by-play of the main card below, including video of Saturday’s sensational finishes by top prospects Xander Zayas and Abdullah Mason.
Main Card
WBO lightweight title: Keyshawn Davis def. Denys Berinchyk via fourth-round KO | Watch video
Super welterweight: Xander Zayas def. Slawa Spomer via ninth-round TKO | Watch video
Middleweight: Vito Mielnicki and Connor Coyle fight to a majority decision draw (96-94 Mielnicki, 95-95, 95-95)
Prelims
Super flyweight: Juanmita Lopez De Jesus def. Bryan Santiago via first-round KO | Watch video
Lightweight: Abdullah Mason def. Manuel Jaimes via fourth-round TKO | Watch video
Welterweight: Rohan Polanco def. Jean Carlos Torres via second-round TKO | Watch video
Super welterweight: Keon Davis def. Ira Johnson via second-round KO | Watch video
Heavyweight: Jared Anderson def. Marios Kollias via unanimous decision (99-91, 99-91, 98-92)
Middleweight: Juan Carlos Guerra Jr. def. Nico Ali Walsh via split decision (58-56 Ali Walsh, 58-56 Guerra, 58-56 Guerra)
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER59 updates
Keyshawn Davis calls out Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Vasiliy Lomachenko
“Anybody that got the balls to step in the ring to fight me. Tell ’em come on, anybody. There’s two 135 [pound] division champions that I would love to fight. If they got the guts to step in the ring with ‘The Businessman,’ tell ’em send me the contract, or I’ll send them one.”
There’s three world champions at lightweight aside from Davis. Davis and WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson are close friends, so Davis obviously wasn’t calling him out. Davis was referring to WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and the IBF titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko.
Keyshawn Davis’ 4th-round KO of Denys Berinchyk
Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis – Round 4
Right hand to the body from Davis, followed by a right hand upstairs. Berinchyk is constantly off balance. Dominant from Davis up to now. Left hook to the body, DOWN GOES BERINCHYK AGAIN AND HE WILL SIT OUT THE COUNT!
KO-4 Keyshawn Davis
Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis – Round 3
Left hook to the body scores and DOWN GOES BERINCHYK early in round three. Big breakthrough for Davis, Berinchyk didn’t look particularly hurt though and gets straight back to his feet. Back to the body goes Davis with the left hook. Berinchyk starting to let his left hand go more.
10-8 Davis, 30-26 Davis
Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis – Round 2
Right hand connects for Davis as Berinchyk starts round two as a southpaw. Lots of movement from Berinchyk early in this fight. Left hand lands for Berinchyk, his first significant connect of the fight. Berinchyk’s game plan at least early looks to be to make things scrappy, ugly, and uncomfortable in there for Davis.
10-9 Davis, 20-18 Davis
Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis – Round 1
Davis starts on the front foot, Berinchyk circling the ring on the backfoot. Davis is noticeably taller and the bigger man in the ring. Berinchyk is already switching between stances. Davis attempts a right hand to the body just after the first minute of the opener, followed by a pair of jabs. Berinchyk attempting the southpaw right hook. Right hand lands for Davis upstairs.
10-9 Davis
Berinchyk & Davis in the ring
It’s go time in New York, first bell is just seconds away!
Main Event Time: Denys Berinchyk vs. Keyshawn Davis
WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) defends his belt against the fast-rising contender Keyshawn Davis (12-0, 8 KOs).
Berinchyk vs. Davis is a battle of Olympic silver medalists and a battle of unbeaten top ten fighters at lightweight.
No nerves for Keyshawn Davis backstage!
Terence Crawford backstage with the challenger Keyshawn Davis
Video: Xander Zayas TKO-9 Slawa Spomer in battle of unbeatens
Zayas stops Spomer in the 9th
Xander Zayas opens round nine with some huge power shots. Right hand gets through followed by a hard left hook. Spomer is on the ropes just trying to survive. Left hook to the body lands and Spomer was HURT there.
Zayas is desperate for the finish and really putting his punches together. Spomer looks shaken, ANOTHER body punch connects. Spomer is now guarding his body with his hands, he doesn’t want to continue and the referee stops it!
TKO-9 Xander Zayas
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer – Round 8
These rounds are following a similar pattern now. Zayas landing with hooks and uppercuts to both the torso and the head, he is, however, unable to stop Spomer. Zayas throwing and landing with a massive volume, but Spomer seems durable and tough.
10-9 Zayas, 80-72 Zayas
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer – Round 6
BIG round for Zayas!
Spomer was on the receiving end of some heavy punishment from Zayas in the sixth. Zayas went to work with both hands to the head and to the body. Spomer didn’t respond to the majority of Zayas’ attacks. Zayas is starting to put a dent in Spomer now, one more dominant round like that, and he might be able to go through the gears and get the finish.
10-9 Zayas, 60-54 Zayas
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer – Round 5
Zayas targeting power punches downstairs. Spomer is being outgunned, but still attempting to punch with Zayas. Zayas needs to do a better job of breaking Spomer down before launching a big attack.
Spomer goes down for the second time in two consecutive rounds from a low blow, referee tells Zayas he won’t take a point away, but Zayas has got to keep those punches up.
10-9 Zayas, 50-45 Zayas
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer – Round 4
Zayas HURTS Spomer in the final minute and follows through with power shots from both hands. Spomer is backing up and visible hurt as Zayas is putting his punches together. Counter right hand from Spomer CATCHES Zayas, good response from the underdog. Interesting fight through four.
10-9 Zayas, 40-36 Zayas
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer – Round 3
Zayas is working Spomer’s body in round three, targeting the left hook downstairs and also looking to create an opening for a left uppercut through the middle. Spomer has no issues standing and trading with Zayas at mid-range as the pair exchange hooks and body shots. Zayas is fighting risky, rather than breaking his man down.
10-9 Zayas, 30-27 Zayas
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer – Round 2
Zayas opening up early in the second. A 1-2 gets through, followed by a 3-punch combination. Spomer starts to have some success with power shots in the second minute though, a heavy right hand got through, followed by a left hook. Zayas back to the jab, and controlling the action.
10-9 Zayas, 20-18 Zayas
Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer – Round 1
Dominant opener for Xander Zayas.
Zayas opened proceedings with a double jab that broke through Spomer’s guard. Spomer seems wide open for Zayas’ lead left hand, Zayas landed that punch all throughout the first.
A left hook from Zayas got through upstairs and downstairs after he established his jab. Spomer looks a level below.
10-9 Zayas
Next: Xander Zayas vs. Slawa Spomer
Puerto Rican super welterweight Xander Zayas (20-0, 12 KOs) meets Germany’s Slawa Spomer (20-0, 11 KOs) in tonight’s co-feature.
Zayas is the WBO’s No. 1-ranked contender at 154 pounds for unified champion Sebastian Fundora
