Promoter Eddie Hearn claims former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk is 'tailor-made' for his fighter, Ishael Davis, in their 12-round chief support bout on Turki Alalshik's card in Riyadh. Bohachuk vs Davis fight during the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 event at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Bohachuk vs. Davis
The Bohachuk-Davis fight is considered the best on the undercard, but that may not be the case if Davis performs like he did in his loss to Josh Kelly and in his previous fights . Ishmael is what you call a “punch and grab” type fighter. He throws single punches, then goes into a clinch and grapple. It's not fun to watch.
Hearn says that although Davis (13-1, 6 KOs) lost his last fight to Josh Kelly by a 12-round split decision on September 21, Bohachuk's “straight-up” style suits him better, and he believes he can win.
Ishmael, 29, very muscular, has a weak striking style in which he follows his opponents, throws a jab, then a single jab followed by a clinch. He repeats this pattern over and over again without variation.
He does a lot of holding and bludgeoning in the clinch. It's an ugly style. He withdrew when attacked Shakur-style, and fights ended with poor results due to his constant moving and twitching. Surprisingly, Davis is used as a replacement opponent after Israil Madrimov dropped out of the fight. Turki should have found someone who makes him entertaining because he holds and moves a lot of Ishmael.
For a PPV card, having Ishmael Davis in the co-feature is poison. He has NO chance of beating Bohachuk. It's not even up for debate. Davis would lose to Bohachuk's final four opponents. What's important is that a quality opponent is used for Bohachuk due to the high profile of the card, and Davis is just so awful to watch between the punching, grabbing, and moving style that he uses.
Hearn says Ishmael Davis can win this fight and become the WBC mandatory for champion Sebastian Fundora. That doesn't happen, but you can't blame Hearn for defending his fighter. Davis can't win this fight or beat top 15 contenders. His defeat against Josh Kelly last September says a lot about him. Throw Ishmael with one of Bohacuk's recent victims, Brian Mendoza, Patrick Allotey or Nathaniel Gallimore; he doesn't win against any of them.
When Davis got closer to Kelly, he threw a punch and caught her. It was either that or back down from the attack of Kelly, who is not a big puncher.
Ishmael Davis' ring IQ isn't there, and his style is so boring in the extreme. He fights like he has no sense in his head. He doesn't think in the ring. If it was Hearn's choice, he screwed Turki.
The entire undercard is terrible, but Davis only makes things worse. Bohachuk is the only good thing about the undercard, but he's facing a bigger version of Shakur without his skills and without more clout.
Hearn's 'tailor-made' claim
“It's another level in terms of that kind of opposition,” Eddie Hearn told Boxing in the match room about Ishmael Davis who lost a close 12 round split decision to Josh Kelly and now faces former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk this Saturday night in Riyadh.
“Although Josh [Kelly] he's a good fighter, it's a different style [Bohachuk]. Josh Kelly's style didn't really suit Ishmail Davis. This style of Bohachuk is actually tailor-made for Ishmael Davis, but he is world class.
“So, I see it like that. “First and foremost, it’s a payday you can’t turn down,” Hearn said of Ishmael Davis fighting Bohachuk on Saturday night. “'Number two, I like the style for you. Third, you are a quality fighter.
It's certainly a payday for Ishamel Davis taking on Bohachuk in the co-feature bout of the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 rematch in Riyadh. Davis will get a good payday, but this is not a fight he can win.
“'At your party, you can compete with anyone. Number four, if you beat this kid [Bohachuk]you are going to be the agent for [WBC junior middleweight champion] Sebastian Fundora, and you're going to make a seven figure [$1 million+] pay day. So, let's go. That’s how I look at it,” Hearn said of Davis.
On Ishmael's best night, he might get lucky and win a decision against a marginal contender, as he has a way of neutralizing his opponents' offense by immediately throwing and catching them. With this style of striking and grabbing, it is difficult for fighters to get a shot before being restrained by Davis. A good referee will penalize Davis if he uses this style all night because he is using it to stall the fight, but he cannot beat a world class fighter like Bohachuk using this negative style.
“It’s not about being brave. It's about being smart, calculated, strategic, and all of that is consistent with this decision. [Davis fighting Bohachuk]”, Hearn said of Ishmael. “We are not launching an English champion at world level. Ishmael has the potential, and I think he is already at British and European level. He has the ability and the potential to to be a world-class fighter,” Hearn said of the 29-year-old Davis.
“Imagine if he had.” He's totally against it, but the style. Bohachuk is a straight line. He is relentless. He’s a very good fighter, but I’m looking forward to this fight,” Hearn said.
Davis is not going to win this fight, even with his outfit. Bohachuk will nail Davis when he dives for a clinch, and he will be hurt. Bohachuk needs to be aware of all the holding and wrestling that Davis will do because he will have to fight in the clinch to land his shots.
Davis will use this style as his primary defensive tactic, as he unsuccessfully attempted to do against Josh Kelly. Bohachuk will hurt Davis with something and knock him out at some point in this fight.
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