Promoter Eddie Hearn claims former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk is a “fit” for his fighter, Ishael Davis, in their 12-round main support fight on Turki Alalshik's card in Riyadh. Bohachuk vs. Davis fight at Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Bohačuk vs. Davis
The Bohachuk-Davis fight is considered the best on the undercard, but it might not be if Davis works like he did in his loss to Josh Kelly and in his previous fights. Ishmael is what you call a 'kick and grab' fighter. He throws single punches, then gets into a clinch and a grapple. It's not fun to watch.
Hearn states that while Davis (13-1, 6 KO) lost his last fight to Josh Kelly by split decision in 12 rounds on September 21st, Bohachuk's “straight forward” style suits him better and he thinks he can win.
The muscular Ishmael, 29, has a lean striking style in which he follows his opponents around, throws a jab, then a jab followed by a clinch. He repeats this pattern over and over without variation.
Holds a lot and hits in the clinch. It's an ugly style. He retreated when attacked in Shakur's fashion, and the fights ended up being low-impact due to his movement and constant squeezing. Surprisingly, Davis is being used as a replacement opponent after Israil Madrimov pulled out of the fight. Turki needed to find someone to make it fun because Ishmael has a lot of holding and moving.
For a PPV card, having Ishmael Davis in the co-feature is toxic. He has NO chance of beating Bohachuk. That's not even up for debate. Davis would lose to Bohachuk's last four opponents. What is important is to use a quality opponent for Bohachuk due to the high visibility of the map, and Davis is so awful to watch between the striking, catching and movement style he uses.
Hearn says that Ishmael Davis can win this fight and become the WBC underwriter for champion Sebastian Fundora. It's not happening, but you can't blame Hearn for going for his fighter. Davis can't win this fight or beat any of the top 15 contenders. His loss to Josh Kelly last September speaks volumes for him. Match Ishmael with one of Bohacuk's recent victims, Brian Mendoza, Patrick Allotey or Nathaniel Gallimore; he doesn't win against either of them.
When Davis got close to Kelly, he would punch and grab her. It was either that or a retreat when he was attacked by Kelly, who isn't a big shot.
Ishmael Davis' ring IQ is not there and his style is boring to the extreme. He fights like he's out of his mind. He doesn't think in the ring. If this was Hearn's choice, he screwed Turk.
The entire undercard is terrible, but Davis makes it even worse. Bohachuk is the only good thing on the undercard, but he's fighting a bigger version of Shakur without his skills and more of a clinch.
Hearn's “tailored” claim.
“This is another level in terms of that kind of opposition,” Eddie Hearn said Matchroom boxing on Ishmael Davis coming off a narrow 12 round split decision loss to Josh Kelly so far facing former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk this Saturday night in Riyadh.
“Even though Josh (Kelly) is a good fighter, this is a different style (Bohachuk). Josh Kelly's style didn't really sit well with Ishmail Davis. This style from Bohachuk is actually tailor-made for Ishmael Davis, but it's world-class.
“So, I look at it this way. “First and foremost, it's a paycheck you can't turn down,” Hearn said of the Ishmael Davis vs. Bohachuk fight on Saturday night. “'Number two, I like your style. Number three, you are a quality fighter.
It's sure to be a payday for Ishamel Davis who will take on Bohachuk in a joint fight in the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 rematch in Riyadh. Davis will get paid handsomely, but it's not a fight he can win.
“'On your night, you can compete with anyone. Number four, if you beat this kid (Bohachuk), you're going to be a liability for (WBC junior middleweight champion) Sebastian Fundora, and you're going to make a seven-figure salary ($1 million +). Well, let's fuck.' That's the way I look at it,” Hearn said of Davis.
On Ishmael's best night, he might get lucky and win by decision against a fringe competitor because he has a way of neutralizing his opponents' offense by immediately throwing and grabbing them. With that punch and grab style, it's hard for fighters to land a punch before Davis holds them back. A good judge will punish Davis if he uses this style all night because he uses it to delay the fight, but he can't beat a world class fighter like Bohachuk using that negative style.
“It's not about being brave. It's important to be smart, calculated, strategic, and that's all in line with this decision (Davis fighting Bohachuk),” Hearn said of Ishmael. “We are not throwing an English champion at the world level. Ishmael has potential and I believe he is already at British and European level. He has the ability and potential to be a world-class fighter,” Hearn said of the 29-year-old Davis.
“Imagine if he did that. He is against it, but style. Bohačuk is a straight line. He is relentless. He's a very good fighter, but I can't wait for that fight,” Hearn said.
Davis is not going to win this fight, even with his demeanor. Bohachuk will nail Davis when he jumps forward in the clinch, and he will get hurt. Bohachuk has to be aware of his stance and the wrestling that Davis will do because he will have to clinch to get his shots.
Davis will use that style as his main defensive tactic, as he unsuccessfully tried to do against Josh Kelly. Bohachuk will hurt Davis with something, and knock him out at some point in this fight.