Middleweight contender Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis (19-3-1, 6 KOs) aims to catapult himself into a world title shot when he faces undefeated WBA #1 Cuban Yoenli Feliciano Hernandez (7-0, 7 KOs) in a 10-round showdown on Saturday, May 31.
The 160-pound prospects will feature on a stacked PBC Championship Boxing on Prime Video lineup from Michelob ULTRA Arena at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, headlined by Caleb Plant vs Armando Reséndiz and Jermall Charlo vs Thomas LaManna.
“A win on May 31 will 100% let everyone know I need a title shot,” said the ambitious Davis. “Stop playing with my name. This is the second guy that’s ranked #1 by the WBA. So how many of these guys do I have to beat to get my shot? I want the big fights for the titles. I’ve fought a lot of world champions. I’m ready for the title.”
On May 31, Davis will take on a Cuban amateur star who’s quickly risen in the pro boxing ranks. Having most recently dominated Angel Ruiz in February, Hernandez will be highly-motivated to make a statement, just like Davis plans to do also.
While Kyrone could put himself into world title contention, his focus remains on preparing for the best version of Hernandez and continuing to take on the toughest challenges he can get.
“I know he had a good amateur career and he’s a good fighter overall,” said Davis. “He seems like he knows what he’s doing and I expect him to be very motivated. “I’m coming to do whatever I have to do. I’d have loved the title shot, but I’m just fighting the best that’s available and the guy that’s going to be in front of me on May 31.”
In a pro career that now dates back over a decade, Davis now appears on the precipice of breaking into the upper echelons of the sport.
His recent rise may have surprised some, but confident Kyrone believes he’s a sleeping giant ready to take advantage of what’s in front of him.
“I feel like the media and oddsmakers don’t always know boxing,” said Davis, when asked about his underdog status heading into the Garcia fight. “Some people just look at records blindly. And even though they know better, they still don’t do better. In boxing, we know you can build up and pad your record.
“I have a loss against Davis Benavidez, but on only 16 days’ notice,” said Davis. “I have the draw with Anthony Dirrell, but I think I really won that fight. Vegas and the media don’t always see that side, and they just go by wins and losses. A lot of boxing insiders knew that was a real fight against Elijah Garcia though. You embrace whatever card you’re given. Whether I’m the underdog or the favorite, I embrace whatever I am. That’s the attitude I have in this game.”
Davis most recently delivered the best performance of his career against Elijah Garcia and allowed him to prove his presence in the middleweight division.
“I definitely needed it and wanted to win to prove some people wrong and show that I’m at a certain level,” said Davis. “I’ve taken the hard road sometimes. I haven’t always had the time to train properly. I came in on short notice several times. I came in on only 16 days’ notice for the David Benavidez fight. For my last fight, that was the first time in a while that I’ve had a chance to fully prepare, and I think it showed in my performance. It makes a huge difference and it’s a huge advantage to be able to fully and properly prepare. Sometimes you can go into camp with only two or three weeks’ notice of who you’re fighting. And even though you might have been in the gym for longer, you’re finding out about that specific opponent and able to prepare for them for only a short time. And sometimes I’ve had to take those kinds of risks in my career.”
Tickets for the live event are on sale now through AXS.com
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