It will be very difficult for Keyshawn Davis' team to “take apart” Berinchyk
This Friday, February 14, in New York, Denis Berinchyk will defend his WBO lightweight title in a fight with American Keyshawn Davis. The upcoming fight will be the most difficult in Berinchyk's career , who will have to fight on the territory of a younger opponent and, as they say now, a future star of professional boxing. But Davis' team faces a difficult task before the fight: to analyze Berinchyk, choosing tactics for the fight. And it is precisely unpredictability that may become the Ukrainian's main trump card.
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Davis, as we have already said, has one of the best trainers in modern professional boxing – Terence Crawford’s mentor Brian McIntyre. Keyshawn has excellent training conditions and a large selection of quality sparring partners. No one doubts McIntyre’s qualifications, Davis’s skills and his team’s analytical abilities. The whole question is, what kind of Berinchyk was the American preparing for?
Read also: Why Davis is considered a clear favorite in the fight with Berinchyk. Excellent amateur career, elite coach, status of a big prospect
“Keyshawn has never boxed with opponents who can change stances and move well. He's in big trouble,” Berinchyk said before the fight. And he wasn't lying: Denis boxes equally well in both left-handed and right-handed stances. Moreover, he easily changes them during the fight. So, who did Davis' team analyze: Berinchyk the orthodox or Berinchyk the southpaw?
Read also: Blood, sweat and tears: promo of the fight between Berinchyk and Davis published (video)
The Ukrainian knows how and enjoys working from a distance, but also easily not only enters into close combat, but also imposes or accepts an exchange. Here again, it is interesting who Keyshawn preferred: Berinchyk the outfighter or Berinchyk the slugger, who, unlike the “classic” representatives of this style, also works well on his feet?
At the same time, Berinchyk can fight both in a tempo manner, constantly putting pressure on the opponent, and boxing as a counterpuncher, forcing the opponent to make mistakes in attacks. Which of them did Davis' team analyze in preparation?
And plus, there is another important point: so far, no boxer has managed to break Berinchyk's will, not to mention knocking him out or even knocking him down. The Ukrainian is always the master of the ring, choosing the style, distance, and nature of the fight that are convenient for him.
Yes, as we said, Davis has enough strong points – age, physical strength, youth. Keyshawn knows how to find gaps in his opponents’ defense, works great on the body. The American will have the judges and the sympathy of the public on his side. But it is precisely unpredictability and character that should become Berinchyk’s main trump cards. And if he can, if not surprise, then puzzle Davis, he will have a chance.
“Berinchyk is such an unconventional, unique boxer that it is difficult to predict,” said the current number one contender in the WBC rating, Sergey Bogachuk. “Many people underestimate Berinchyk, because he is so “clumsy” from the outside, but in fact, Denis is a very good boxer, not convenient. For example, his fight with Navarrete, which I attended and saw how it went, I was surprised. I was sure that Denis clearly needed to win this fight, because the judges would not give the victory, but he still won. I was surprised, because a guy came from another country, there are no fights in the USA, no one knows him, he boxed with a local, whom many supported, and they give the victory to our boxer in an equal fight. If this continues to be fair, then the chances with Davis are equal.”
We hope that Bogachuk's forecast is more accurate than the bookmakers' odds, which estimate Berinchyk's chances of winning as 1×4. The probability of Davis winning is 1×1.25. The chance that the Denis Berinchyk – Keyshawn Davis fight will end in a draw is 1×19. At the same time, bookmakers are betting that the Berinchyk – Davis fight will go the full distance. The probability of “total rounds in the Berinchyk – Davis fight over 10.5″ is 1×1.36. The chance of Berinchyk winning by points is 1×5.5. The probability of Davis winning by decision is 1×1.9. In other words, experts believe that the judges will not let the Ukrainian win by points. I would like to think that they are wrong.