Promoter Eddie Hearn claims former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk is “tailored” for his fighter, Ishael Davis, in their 12-round support fight on Turki Alalshik’s card in Riyadh. Bohachuk vs Davis will fight on the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 event at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Bohachuk vs. Davis
The Bohachuk-Davis fight is seen as the best on the undercard, but it may not be if Davis performs as he did in his loss to Josh Kelly and in his previous fights. Ismaël is what you call a “punch-and-grab” fighter. He throws single shots, then drops into a clinch and the fight. It’s not fun to watch.
Hearn says that even though Davis (13-1, 6 KOs) lost his last fight against Josh Kelly via a 12-round split decision on September 21, Bohachuk’s “straightforward” style suits him better, and he thinks who can win.
Ismaele, 29, muscular, has a low punch production style in which he follows his opponents around, throws a jab, then a single shot followed by a clinch. Repeat this pattern over and over without variation.
He does a lot of holding and clubbing in the clinch. It’s an ugly style. He retreated when attacked in a Shakur-esque manner, and the fights ended with low production due to his constant movement and closing. Surprisingly, Davis is being used as the replacement opponent after Israil Madrimov pulled out of the fight. Turki should have found someone who makes it fun because he really cares and moves about Ismaele.
For a PPV card, having Ishmael Davis co-feature is poisonous. He has no chance to beat Bohachuk. That is not even up for debate. Davis would lose to Bohachuk’s last four opponents. What is important is that a quality opponent is used for Bohachuk due to the high visibility of the card, and Davis is so terrible to watch between the punch, grab, and move style that he uses.
Hearn says Ishmael Davis can win this fight and become the WBC mandatory for champion Sebastian Fundora. It won’t happen, but you can’t blame Hearn for going to bat for his fighter. Davis can’t win this fight or beat the top 15 contenders. His loss to Josh Kelly last September says enough about him. Throw in Ismaele with one of Bohacuk’s recent victims, Brian Mendoza, Patrick Allotey, or Nathaniel Gallimore; he is not winning against any of them.
As Davis approached Kelly, he would throw a punch and grab. It was either that or he retired when attacked by Kelly, who is not a great puncher.
The IQ ring of Ishmael Davis is not there, and his style is so abbreviated to the extreme. He fights like it doesn’t make sense in his head. He doesn’t think in the ring. If it was Hearn’s choice, he got Turki wrong.
The entire undercard is terrible, but Davis is worse. Bohachuk is the only good thing on the undercard, but he’s facing a bigger version of Shakur without his skills and more of a clincher.
Hearn’s “Tailor-made” claim
“This is another level in terms of this type of opposition,” said Eddie Hearn Matchroom Boxing about Ishmael Davis coming off a 12-round split decision loss to Josh Kelly to now face former interim WBC junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk this Saturday night in Riyadh.
“Although Josh (Kelly) is a good fighter, this is a different style (Bohachuk). Josh Kelly’s style is not really suitable for Ishmail Davis. This style of Bohachuk is really made for Ishmael Davis, but it is level worldwide
“So, I look at it that way. “First of all, it’s a payday that you can’t refuse,” Hearn said about Ishmael Davis who fought Bohachuk on Saturday night. “‘Number two, I like the style for you . Number three, you are a quality fighter.
This is a payday for sure for Ishamel Davis who faces off against Bohachuk in the co-feature fight on the Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk 2 rematch in Riyadh. Davis will get a big payday, but it’s not a fight he can win.
“‘On your night, you can compete with anybody. Number four, if you beat this kid (Bohachuk), you’re going to be mandatory for (WBC junior middleweight champion) Sebastian Fundora, and you’re going to to make a seven-figure ($1 million+) payday. So, let’s fuck.’ That’s how I saw it,” Hearn said of Davis.
On Ismaele’s best night, he might get lucky and win a decision against a fringe-level contender because he has a way of neutralizing his opponents’ offense by throwing them and catching them immediately. With that punch-and-grab style, it’s hard for fighters to land a shot before being held by Davis. A good referee will penalize Davis is he uses this style all night because he uses it to set up the fight, but he can’t beat a world class fighter like Bohachuk with that negative style.
“It’s not about being brave. It’s about being smart, calculated, strategic, and that’s all aligned with this decision (Davis fighting Bohachuk),” Hearn said about Ismaele. “We are not launching an English champion at world level. Ishmael has the potential, and I believe he is already at British and European level. He has the ability and the potential to be a world-class fighter,” Hearn said of Davis. of 29 years.
“Imagine if he did. He’s right against, but the style. Bohachuk is a straight line. He’s relentless. He’s a good fighter, but I can’t wait for that fight,” said Hearn.
Davis is not going to win this fight, even with his grip. Bohachuk hits Davis when he dives forward to hit him, and he gets hurt. Bohachuk will have to be aware of all the holds and wrestling that Davis will do because he will have to fight in the clinch to get his shots.
Davis will use this style as his main defensive tactic, as he tried to do without success against Josh Kelly. Bohachuk will hurt Davis with something, and eliminate him at some point in this fight.
