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Boxer claims he received racist packages from opponent

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 11:13 AM ET

Boxer Keyshawn Davis accused his opponent of a racist act ahead of their WBO lightweight title fight on Friday.

At Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference (video here ; viewer discretion advised), Davis accused reigning WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk of sending him racist packages ahead of Friday’s title fight. Davis said Berinchyk sent a box of bananas and watermelons to his room, prompting the accusation.

“This guy came to America to give me bananas and watermelon with a note on it,” Davis said. “It’s unprofessional and I feel like it’s racist, and he just made this fight a little more personal.”

Davis also shared a photo of the package on social media.

Berinchyk, through a translator, denied having anything to do with the package.

“I don’t speak English and I don’t write English. It’s weird even to mention this,” Berinchyk said. “Some people with bad intentions looking for some hype made this.”

Top Rank Boxing, the fight promoter, issued a statement saying they were “appalled and disgusted” by whoever sent the package, and that “Keyshawn has our full support.”

pic.twitter.com/0Fm9llrJQX
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) February 13, 2025

This is the first world title fight for Davis, a Virginia native who is 12-0 with 8 KOs in his professional career. For Berinchyk, who is 19-0 with 9 KOs, this is the first defense of his lightweight title, which he claimed last May. They are the scheduled main event Friday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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