Keyshawn Davis’ first world title shot is no longer just about capturing the belt. It’s now become very personal for the American boxing standout as well.
Davis claimed Wednesday morning to have been sent a package with racist implications that contained bananas and a watermelon to his hotel room. Davis posted a photo of the package on social media, which had a note attached that read:
“Here’s a snack for all those hight jumps. Stay energized businesswom..”
Davis’ nickname in boxing circles is “The Businessman.”
The Virginia-based lightweight claimed the package was sent by his Friday opponent, WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk, as well as Berinchyk’s team. Berinchyk and his team denied the allegations.
It’s black history month Friday I’m doing it for the culture.🫱🏾🫲🏿
— Keyshawn Davis (@KeyshawnDavis8) February 12, 2025
Davis (12-0, 8 KOs) challenges Ukraine’s Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) for his WBO lightweight title in Friday’s main event from Madison Square Garden’s The Theatre in New York. Uncrowned will have live round-by-round coverage of the entire main card.
“I want to address the fact that this guy came to America to give me bananas and watermelon with a note on it,” Davis said at Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference. “It’s unprofessional, and I feel like it’s racist — and you just made this fight a little more personal.”
“First thing I want to say is that I don’t speak English and I don’t write English,” Berinchyk responded through a translator, “because I saw his message on [social] media. It’s weird even to mention this. Some people with bad intentions looking for some hype made this [package].”
“Y’all did it,” Davis interrupted. “It’s OK that y’all did it, I’m going to whoop your a** for it. So just come Friday night, just know what’s going to happen to the both of you.”
“First thing you need to do is make weight and afterward, Friday night, we’re going to sort it out,” Berinchyk replied through a translator.
“And that’s exactly what he wrote on the note too,” Davis said, “but we’re not going to talk about that.”
Soon after, Davis rose out of his seat at the press conference to stand right in front of Berinchyk and launched a rant at him.
“Bro, you’re not tougher than me,” Davis said to Berinchyk. “You can talk about all of that bare-knuckle stuff — I don’t care about none of that. I come from what I come from, I’ve been doing this bare-knuckle s*** outside the ring. All that s*** you talk about, I don’t care. I going to f*** you up Friday.”
“I don’t care about none of your experience, amateur experience. I don’t care about your [Olympic] silver medal. I don’t care about your watch, your belt, or none of that. I’m going to f*** you up Friday.”
Things grew even more heated when the pair faced off following the conclusion of Wednesday’s press conference, as Davis stood directly in Berinchyk’s face and repeatedly shouted the word “racist.”
Security was ultimately forced to intervene to separate a very animated Davis from Berinchyk.
Davis is considered one of the top American prospects in boxing. He needed just two rounds to knock out Gustavo Lemos in his Norfolk, Virginia, homecoming this past November.
Berinchyk won the vacant WBO title with a split decision over Emanuel Navarrete in May.
