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Keyshawn Davis Overflowing With Confidence
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Keyshawn Davis doesn’t lack confidence and as The Ring 6 approaches, he believes his presence has provided the promotional spark the card needed. Speaking with The Ring ahead of the Jan. 31 DAZN pay-per-view event at Madison Square Garden. Davis suggested that his return to action has generated buzz that extends well beyond the main event. While careful to stress respect for his peers. Davis made it clear he feels his storyline has become central to the promotion.

“I’m just being myself, honestly, bro,” Davis said. “I feel like, honestly, I’m doing a lotta promotion for this fight. Every time I go on social media, the first thing I see is my face somebody clipping me from an interview, clipping my vlogs, or pulling something from my Instagram and putting it on Twitter. I really feel like I’m carrying this promotion, this card.”

Davis added that he wasn’t diminishing the star power of his close friend Shakur Stevenson or champion Teofimo Lopez, who will clash in the 12-round main event for Ring and WBO junior welterweight supremacy.

“Shakur and Teo are big names,” Davis said. “I’m not saying people aren’t coming to watch them. But I can also say a lotta people are coming to watch me as well. As long as I keep being myself, I’m gonna be a superstar.”

A New Chapter at 140 Pounds

Davis (13-0, 9 KOs, 1 NC) will make his debut as a full-fledged junior welterweight when he faces Jamaine Ortiz (20-2-1, 10 KOs) in the 12-round co-feature. The bout marks Davis’ first appearance since a turbulent stretch that derailed his lightweight title reign last summer.

In June, Davis came in 4.3 pounds overweight for what was scheduled to be his first defense of the WBO lightweight title in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. The fight was canceled when the opposing camp refused to proceed, citing safety concerns. The situation escalated the following night when Davis was involved in a locker-room altercation after his brother, Kelvin Davis, lost on the same card.

Davis later owned his mistakes, admitting on the All The Smoke Fight podcast that alcohol played a significant role in his struggles.

“I was drinking every single day,” Davis said, reflecting on the failed weight cut.

Remembering the Berinchyk Breakout

Before that collapse, Davis was riding a wave of momentum. The 2021 Olympic silver medalist last fought in February. When he demolished previously unbeaten Denys Berinchyk at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Davis dropped Berinchyk twice and stopped him in the fourth round to claim the WBO lightweight title, announcing himself as one of the sport’s brightest young stars.

Now 26, Davis has spent nearly a year away from competition, using the time to reset physically and mentally as he moves up in weight.

Odds and Opportunity

Despite the layoff, sportsbooks have installed Davis as a heavy favorite. DraftKings lists him at better than 4-1 to defeat Ortiz. A durable and experienced opponent whose only losses came via unanimous decision to Lopez and retired three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko.

For Davis, The Ring 6 isn’t just about redemption it’s about proving he belongs among boxing’s next generation of marquee attractions.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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