Until recently, Keyshawn was part of Brian “BoMac” McIntyre’s lineup, training out of the same gym as Bernie Davis. That familiarity shapes the view. From Bernie’s corner, Ortiz has already pointed out the error that keeps cropping up. He can compete. He can survive. But when it came time to take something, he hesitated.
Davis points straight to Ortiz’s 2024 loss to Teofimo Lopez as the warning sign. Ortiz boxed well enough to stay in the fight, but never fully committed to forcing a decision in his favor.
“Jamaine Ortiz, he put up a good fight against Loma,” Davis said MillCity Boxing. “He didn’t want to push the gas with Teo. I think Keyshawn, his punches are coming at a higher velocity and a little more power than Teo at this point.”
That view cuts against a popular fan argument. Many felt that Ortiz deserved the nod against both Lopez and Vasiliy Lomachenko, who outworked them in return but paid the price of being the B-Team on the scorecards. Davis is not interested in moral victories. To him, those fights show a pattern, not bad luck.
Keyshawn, he argues, brings something different. Not raw knockout power, but sharper timing and a willingness to let his hands go when openings appear.
Davis admits that Keyshawn is not a classic one-shot finisher, more of a first-timer who picks moments to charge up. He also notes that Keyshawn’s strikeout of Denys Berinchyk came against an aging beltholder rather than a division leader. Intent determines battles like this.
“Keyshawn is going to load those hooks on him,” Davis said. “Jamaine Ortiz already fought Teo. Keyshawn Davis is not Teo. He comes out with those guns blazing when he lets them go.”
The fight sits under the main event of The Ring 6 at Madison Square Garden, and it feels like a crossroads disguised as a support act. Ortiz proved he belongs with top names. Davis believes it is no longer enough. On Jan. 31, he’s betting that Keyshawn will do the thing Ortiz didn’t. Take away the fight.
