Hearn insists Bohachuk’s style suits Ishmael Davis: a “tailor-made” fight?

Promoter Eddie Hearn claims former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk is “tailored” for his fighter, Ishael Davis, in their 12-round main support fight on Turki Alalshik’s card in Riyadh. Bohachuk vs. Davis fights on the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 event at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

Bohachuk vs. Davis

The Bohachuk-Davis fight is considered the best on the undercard, but it might not be if Davis performs the way he did in his loss to Josh Kelly and in his previous fights. Ismael is what you call a ‘punch and grab’ fighter. He throws some punches, then drops in for a clinch and wrestles. It is not entertaining to watch.

Hearn says that although Davis (13-1, 6 KOs) lost his last fight to Josh Kelly via a 12-round split decision on Sept. 21, Bohachuk’s “straight forward” style is more suited to him, and he thinks he can win

The heavily muscled Ishmael, 29, has a low punch output style in which he follows his opponents around, throws a jab, then a single shot followed by a clinch. He repeats this pattern over and over without variation.

He does a lot of holding and clubbing in the clinch. It’s an ugly style. He fell back when attacked in a Shakur-esque fashion, and fights ended with low output due to his movement and constant emphasis. Surprisingly, Davis is being used as the replacement opponent after Israil Madrimov dropped out. Turki must have found someone to make it entertaining because there is a lot of holding and moving from Ismael.

For a PPV card, having Ishmael Davis in the co-feature is toxic. He has NO chance to beat Bohachuk. It’s not even up for debate. Davis would lose to Bohachuk’s last four opponents. What’s important is that a quality opponent is used for Bohachuk due to the high visibility of the card, and Davis is so horrible to watch between the punch, grab and move style he uses.

Hearn says Ishmael Davis can win this fight and become the WBC mandatory for champion Sebastian Fundora. It doesn’t happen, but you can’t blame Hearn for going to bat for his fighter. Davis can’t win this fight or beat any top 15 contenders. His loss to Josh Kelly last September says enough about him. Cast Ishmael with one of Bohacuk’s recent victims, Brian Mendoza, Patrick Allotey, or Nathaniel Gallimore; he doesn’t win against any of them.

Whenever Davis would get close to Kelly, he would throw a punch and grab. It was either that or retreat when he was attacked by Kelly, who is not a big puncher.

The ring IQ of Ishmael Davis is not there, and his style is so boring to the extreme. He fights like he has no sense in his head. He doesn’t think in the ring. If it was Hearn’s choice, he messed up Turki.

The entire undercard is terrible, but Davis makes it worse. Bohachuk is the only thing good about the undercard, but he matched up against a bigger version of Shakur without his skills and more of a clincher.

Hearn’s “Tailor-Made” claim

“It’s another level in terms of that kind of opposition,” Eddie Hearn said Matchroom Boxing about Ishmael Davis coming off a close 12-round split decision loss to Josh Kelly to now face former WBC interim junior middleweight champion Serhii Bohachuk on Saturday night in Riyadh.

“Although Josh (Kelly) is a good fighter, it’s a different style (Bohachuk). The Josh Kelly style didn’t really suit Ishmail Davis. This style of Bohachuk is actually tailor-made for Ishmael Davis, but it is world-class.

“So, I look at it that way. “First of all, it’s a payday you can’t turn down,” Hearn said of Ishmael Davis fighting Bohachuk on Saturday night. “‘Number two, I like the style for you. Number three, you’re a quality fighter.

It’s sure to be a payday for Ishamel Davis who faces Bohachuk in the Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk 2 rematch in Riyadh will perform. Davis will get a nice payday, but it’s not a fight he can win.

“’On your night you can compete with anyone. Number four, if you beat this kid (Bohachuk), you’re going to be the mandatory (WBC junior middleweight champion) Sebastian Fundora, and you’re going to make a seven-figure ($1 million+) payday. So, let’s f*** it.’ That’s the way I look at it,” Hearn said of Davis.

On Ishmael’s best night, he might get lucky and win a decision against a fringe contender because he has a way of neutralizing his opponents’ offense by immediately throwing and grabbing them. With that punch-and-grab style, it’s hard for fighters to land a shot before being held by Davis. A good referee will punish Davis if he uses this style all night because he uses it to stop the fight, but he can’t beat a world class fighter like Bohachuk using that negative style.

“It’s not about being brave. It’s about being smart, calculating, strategic, and that’s all consistent with this decision (Davis fighting Bohachuk),” Hearn said of Ishmael. “We are not throwing some English champion at world level. Ismael has the potential, and I believe he is already at British and European level. He has the ability and potential to be a world-class fighter,” Hearn said of the 29-year-old Davis.

“Imagine if he did that. He is right against it, but the style. Bohachuk is a straight line. He is relentless. He’s a very good fighter, but I can’t wait for that fight,” says Hearn.

Davis is not going to win this fight even with his hold. Bohachuk will nail Davis as he dives forward to clinch, and he will get hurt. Bohachuk needs to be aware of all the holding and grappling that Davis will be doing as he will have to fight in the clinch to get his shots off.

Davis will use that style as his main defensive tactic, as he unsuccessfully tried to do against Josh Kelly. Bohachuk will hurt Davis with something, knocking him out at some point in this fight.