Davis vs Berinchyk: Championship Clash Turns Personal at Weigh-In
It’s Valentine’s Day, but there’s absolutely no love in the air between Davis vs Berinchyk. In fact, things got downright ugly when Keyshawn Davis and Denys Berinchyk came face-to-face at the official weigh-in for their WBO lightweight title fight at Madison Square Garden.
For weeks, Davis and Berinchyk have been trading insults, but on Thursday afternoon, their heated rivalry nearly turned into an all-out brawl.
A Staredown Gone Wrong
Both fighters successfully made weight—Berinchyk at 134.6 pounds and Davis at 134.2 pounds—but the real action happened after they stepped off the scales.
During their traditional faceoff, Davis decided to take things up a notch. The young, brash challenger reached out and grabbed Berinchyk’s championship belt, rubbing and tugging at it in a clear attempt to get under the champion’s skin. Berinchyk, a no-nonsense veteran, was having none of it.
When Davis turned to pose for the cameras, Berinchyk snapped. He shoved Davis off the stage, sending him stumbling backward.
Davis immediately lunged back at him, ready to throw hands right then and there, but security and event staff rushed in to separate them. The two men shouted at each other from across the stage before being pulled in opposite directions.
The message was loud and clear—this isn’t just about a title. This is personal.
Pre-Fight Drama: Davis Accuses Berinchyk of Racism
The bad blood between these two didn’t start at the weigh-in. It’s been boiling for a while.
At Thursday’s press conference, Davis accused Berinchyk of being a racist after an anonymous package containing bananas and watermelons was sent to his hotel room. Davis took the delivery as a racist gesture and immediately pointed fingers at his opponent.
“He’s a racist, plain and simple,” Davis said. “But none of that matters because tomorrow, he’s getting knocked out in the first round.”
Berinchyk, who usually has a lot to say, didn’t respond to the accusations. And after their weigh-in scuffle, he stormed off the stage without speaking to the media.
Breaking Down the Fight: Styles, Records & Key Stats
Despite all the hostility, Davis and Berinchyk actually have a lot in common.
- Both are undefeated—Berinchyk is 19-0 (9 KOs), and Davis is 12-0 (8 KOs).
- Both are Olympic silver medalists—Berinchyk won his at the 2012 London Games, and Davis earned his in Tokyo 2020.
- Davis has a two-inch height advantage at 5’9”, which was clear during their intense staredown.
Berinchyk, now 36 years old, is making his first title defense since winning the belt last May in a tough split decision over Emanuel Navarrete. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Davis is taking on the biggest fight of his career—and he’s making it very clear that he expects to dominate.
“I don’t care if I’m mad, calm, laughing—it doesn’t matter,” Davis said. “He’s going to sleep in the first round.”
Co-Main Event & Undercard: A More Civilized Affair
Unlike Davis and Berinchyk, the rest of the fighters on the card kept it professional.
In the co-main event, Vito Mielnicki Jr. (20-1, 12 KOs) is making his debut as a middleweight against Connor Coyle (21-0, 9 KOs).
- Mielnicki, a 22-year-old prospect from New Jersey, weighed in at 159.4 pounds.
- Coyle, a 34-year-old from Northern Ireland, came in slightly lighter at 158.8 pounds.
This fight could be a major breakout moment for Mielnicki, who is riding an 11-fight win streak and looking to prove he belongs in the middleweight division.
Jared Anderson Returns After His First Career Loss
Another major storyline on the card is the return of heavyweight contender Jared Anderson (17-1, 15 KOs).
The 25-year-old American was once considered a future world champion, but last August, he suffered a brutal fifth-round knockout loss to Martin Bakole—a defeat that shocked many in the boxing world.
Now, Anderson is back, but he’s coming in bigger than ever. He weighed in at a career-high 256.8 pounds, a sign that he may be changing his approach to the heavyweight game.
His opponent, Marios Kollias (12-3-1, 10 KOs), came in at 235.4 pounds. The 33-year-old Swedish-based Greek fighter has been in the pro ranks for 11 years, but this is by far the biggest fight of his career.
Source: There is no love lost between Keyshawn Davis and Denys Berinchyk as they both weigh in
A Grudge Match That’s Been Brewing for Months
Davis and Berinchyk’s beef didn’t just pop up overnight.
For months, they’ve been going back and forth on social media, trading insults and taking shots at each other’s fighting abilities.
Davis, always confident and outspoken, has repeatedly dismissed Berinchyk as an “easy fight” and promised an early knockout.
“I’m better in every way,” he said. “He won’t last more than a round with me.”
Berinchyk, a veteran with years of experience, has mostly ignored the trash talk—until now. His aggressive shove at the weigh-in suggests that Davis has finally gotten under his skin.
The Final Countdown: What’s at Stake?
With all the tension leading up to this fight, one thing is certain—when that first bell rings, there will be fireworks.
For Berinchyk, this is about proving he’s the rightful champion and shutting down the hype surrounding Davis.
For Davis, this is about claiming his first world title and making a statement to the rest of the lightweight division.
Will Davis back up his bold words and score the first-round knockout he’s been promising?
Or will Berinchyk, the gritty, battle-tested champion, teach the young challenger a hard lesson about life at the championship level?
We won’t have to wait long to find out.
The fight headlines Top Rank on ESPN, with the undercard streaming on ESPN+ from 5 p.m. ET and the main card airing live on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.
One thing is for sure—this is must-watch TV.
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