Berinchyk was not the favorite in the fight with Davis, but too many factors converged against him
Denis Berinchyk – Keyshawn Davis, photo – Getty Images
Early Saturday morning, February 15, in New York, Denis Berinchyk lost by knockout in the fourth round to American Keyshawn Davis , losing the WBO lightweight title. The early defeat was the first in the Ukrainian's professional career and only confirmed the bookmakers' rightness in giving the American an unconditional advantage . Berinchyk was expected to perform a sporting feat in this fight, but too many factors converged against him.
See also: Berinchyk vs. Davis: Full Fight Video
Change of coach. It is difficult to predict how much Yegor Golub would have helped Berinchyk in a fight against an opponent who is superior in everything, but a reshuffle on the coaching bridge on the eve of such an important fight certainly did not do any good. Plus, it seems that the young, impulsive and excited Golub would have been able to “get through” or encourage Berinchyk in the breaks between rounds, when it was already clear that character was the Ukrainian’s main chance in the fight against Davis.
Read also: Berinchyk became the third Ukrainian boxer to lose his title in his first defense
Injury. According to Berinchyk's trainer Stanislav Grigoruk, “Denis had an injury – a torn labrum. This is what affected his preparation for the fight. This injury became a significant obstacle, since it did not allow him to fully train and recover before the fight. The injury did not allow him to do everything he is capable of in the ring.”
Read also: Davis: The only thing that gave me trouble was Berinchyk jumping around
Fight time. We can't say that the prime Berinchyk would have handled the current Davis. But the 11-year age difference, plus the American's size, did their job: Berinchyk was breathing heavily after the first three rounds, while Keyshawn seemed to go the distance as planned, despite two not very pleasant three-minute periods.
Opponent. It seems that, as a champion, Berinchyk could have chosen a simpler opponent for his first defense (another matter is whether he would have received the same financial conditions as from Davis' team). But the Ukrainian, apparently, had already been going to big fights for too long to miss another fight, plus he never refused challenges. As a result, Berinchyk had a top boxer as an opponent, for whose championship title a show was arranged (in favor of this – the absence of statements about a possible rematch), and who very soon may become one of the brightest stars of professional boxing.
The punch that led to the knockout. Probably no one interested in boxing would call Berinchyk a weak-willed fighter. Quite the contrary, willpower is one of the Ukrainian's virtues. Alas, Davis hit the liver precisely – after taking a punch to this area of the body, it is unrealistic to get up in 10 seconds.
For Berinchyk, the defeat to Davis was the first in 20 fights in the professional ring. Davis won his 13th fight in the pros, the ninth by stoppage.