At 135, Keyshawn’s strength dictated the terms by forcing opponents to think twice about coming forward. He used that respect to administer the pace, but up at junior welterweight, he has to earn that fear all once again.
The best way a fighter manages space will depend on the threat they pose. At lightweight, Davis built his skilled rise on controlling his opponents together with his power. He discouraged pressure with sharp counters and put enough weight on his punches to make opponents feel every mistake.
That respect shaped rounds before they even fully developed. Now, Jamaine Ortiz enters the image to challenge that asset. Ortiz is a natural at this weight, and he’s durable and doesn’t mind taking a shot to provide one back. If Keyshawn’s punches don’t make Ortiz hesitate, the entire dynamic of the fight changes. We all know Keyshawn has the talents. The true curiosity is his effectiveness against larger bodies.
Power is a tough thing. Sometimes, shots that stop guys of their tracks at lightweight just land cleanly at 140 without changing a thing. When that happens, the space closes, the exchanges get longer, and the rounds get quite a bit harder to win.
If Ortiz can eat Keyshawn’s best shots and keep walking him down, Davis goes into deep water. Making the 135 pound limit is clearly getting tougher for him, so he needs this power to translate immediately.
Saturday is a test of power and suitability. We get to see if Keyshawn could make an actual 140 pounder second guess himself. He must prove he can impose himself over twelve rounds without draining his gas tank. We’ll discover within the ring.
Keyshawn Davis faces Jamaine Ortiz on January 31 as a part of the Ring 6 card at Madison Square Garden in Recent York, streaming on DAZN pay-per-view.