Former WBC Interim Junior Middleweight Champion Serhii Bohachuk is eyeing a knockout victory over his replacement, Ishmael Davis, in their 12-round co-main event this Saturday, December 21. There will be a fight live on DAZN PPV on the Tyson Fury vs. Alexander Usyk 2 card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Davis (13-1, 6 KOs) is fresh off a loss to Josh Kelly on Sept. 21 and has reportedly been a fighter who ranks Turki Alalshik on a high level despite his recent loss.
Lopsided Matchup
Bohachuk (24-2, 23 KOs) says he beat Kelly in the amateurs. Even if it wasn’t, Bohachuk’s fight with Ismail is a bad mismatch. Davis, 29, is a lower-ranked/home-level fighter.
It’s a shame a better fighter wasn’t found to replace Bohachuk because Davis isn’t good enough to make this fight interesting. He didn’t show any power and looked miserable in his loss to Josh Kelly. He made Kelly look like a power hitter in that fight, and he wasn’t.
Recent opponents of Ishmael Davis
– Josh Kelly: MD 12 loss
– Troy Williamson
– Ewan McKenzie
– Lester Espino
– Dustin Aman
– Gabor Gorbić
Ishmael Davis is quite old to fight this level of opposition, but his fight against Josh Kelly showed that he is not good enough to beat world class opponents.
Although Kelly is highly ranked, he should be in the bottom 14 or 15 spots. Kelly’s sixth-round knockout loss to David Avanesyan in 2021 and 10-round draw against Ray Robinson in 2019 showed his level, or lack thereof.
Bohachuk lost a controversial 12-round majority decision to Vergil Ortiz Jr. on Aug. 10 in a fight that left the sport with a black eye. He shouldn’t have lost, but the Las Vegas judges gave it to the popular fighter.
Virgil Jr. was knocked down twice in the fight and forced to run from the eighth round due to a penalty he had taken. Ortiz Jr. was likely saved from an 11th-round knockout when the action was stopped for glove repairs. He was injured during the timeout.
“Ishmael Davis is smart, he’s strong and he’s in good shape.” He is here and in good shape. It looks big and strong,” Serhii Bohachuk said BoxNation about his replacement opponent, Ishmael Davis, who he fights this Saturday, December 21, in Riyadh.
“I saw him in the restaurant now.” He’s a good guy. He smiled. I saw his fight (with Josh Kelly). He presses, moves, can change position from left to right. He is an interesting boxer. “It’s a good experience for me and a good fight for my career,” said Bohachuk about his fight against Ishmael Davis.
“Sure, I can stop (Davis). I’m ready for Madrimov. Of course, I can stop him. I can talk in battle. I will show you in battle.”
Bohachuk will see off Ishmael Davis and knock him out on Saturday night. Davis only goes the distance in this fight if he runs, which he will likely do throughout the contest. He doesn’t have the power to stand in the pocket against Bohachuk and will be quickly mowed down if he tries.
Bohachuk chooses Usyk instead of Fury
“Usik gets a decision or a KO.” If Fury is ready for this fight, Usyk can win the decision,” Bohachuk said. “If Fury is not ready for this fight, Usyk will knock him out in the later rounds, maybe nine or eleven rounds,” said Bohachuk, giving his prediction for the main event fight between unified heavyweight champion Alexander Usyk and Tyson Fury.
“I don’t think I lost the fight with Vergil (Ortiz), and I think Madrimov wants to fight Vergil in the next fight. I’m ready for Madrimov. When he beats Virgil, I’m ready for him. He is a good boxer, he is strong and for me it is an interesting fight – Bohachuk said.
