New boxing world champion crowned after ugly racist scandal
An American boxer has become a champion of the world in the wake of an ugly racist scandal that overshadowed the title fight.
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American boxer Keyshawn Davis has been crowned boxing’s new WBO lightweight king after defeating Ukrainian Denys Berinchyk.
Davis dominated the bout against Berinchyk with the 2021 Tokyo Olympic silver medallist winning his maiden world title in just his 14th professional fight with a fourth round TKO after a brutal body shot.
Unfortunately the blockbuster affair between the two fighters was however sadly overshadowed by an ugly racist scandal.
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In the days prior to the bout, a package containing bananas and a watermelon was reportedly left in Davis’ hotel room along with a note.
The American addressed the ugly incident during a press conference two days before the title fight, blaming it on his rival.
“I wanna address the fact that this guy (Berinchyk) came to America to give me bananas and a watermelon with a note on it,” Davis said.
“It’s unprofessional, and I feel like it’s racist, and you just made this fight a little more personal.
“You all heard what I said: this man brought a box of bananas and a watermelon to America to bring to my room, and I just took it as racist.”
Berinchyk denied the accusations being levelled at him with Davis later turning the blame on former unified lightweight world champion and current WBO junior welterweight king Teofimo Lopez.
Lopez previously lost his unified lightweight titles to Aussie George Kambosos Jr. in 2021.
“I heard Teo did it. Teo, you’re trying to do everything to make yourself relevant,” Davis said on social media.
“It’s the taxes that are killing him. So, he’s trying to cash out. Now he’s trying to come this way. Guess what? I ain’t fighting you. I’m not helping you out. No.
“Go ahead and call me scared. I don’t care. You came into this game rich, you leave this game broke. You’re racist, bro. I’m not helping you out.”
Boxing promotion Top Rank condemned the racist act that had taken place and put their support behind Davis.
The 25-year-old American put the scandal behind him once the bell rang as he put on a clinic against his 36-year-old rival.
Berinchyk was no match for the speed of his opponent who picked him apart and ultimately left him hunched over on the canvas being counted out in the fourth round.
Davis was at his clinical best in his 14th professional fight as he battered the former WBO champ, sending him to the canvas in the third and fourth round.
Both times came courtesy of body shots with the shot in the fourth round ending the fight for good and crowning the new champ.
Davis used his post-fight interview to indirectly call out WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and IBF titleholder Vasiliy Lomachenko.
“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.”
Originally published as New boxing world champion crowned after ugly racist scandal
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