Davis makes quarter-final debut

Leroy Brown, Gleaner Writer

Tsetsi Davis, the boxer who is seeded No. 1 in the Wray and Nephew Contender series, will make his debut in the quarter-finals tonight, when he goes up against Kevin Hylton for a place in the semi-finals, as he seeks a guarantee of a portion of the nearly $2 million prize money at stake.

There will also be two amateur bouts on the card.

The action starts at 8:45 at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium, with a live telecast on TVJ at 9:30.

Davis goes into tonight's fight the overwhelming favourite. He is an accomplished boxer and entered the professional ranks a few years ago after an excellent career as an amateur. He has a6-1 professional record, and in his first fight in the competition he scored a second-round knockout win over Terron Leslie.

He showed some 'ring rust' in the first round of that fight, but found his bearings quickly in the second round, attacked Leslie and in a flash it was over.

Davis cornered Leslie, landed a barrage of punches and Leslie was counted out after only 40 seconds of the round had expired.

In his first fight in the competition, Hylton went up against veteran Ian 'Hagler' Smith and won by disqualification. He won the first round by jabbing and moving and continued being elusive in the second, but lost it to a more methodical and determined Smith. Near the end of that round, he indulged in excessive holding, carried it into the third round and received a warning from the referee.

Despite this, he nevertheless continued with the holding pattern and Smith lost his cool and dumped him to the canvas on his back. In the process, Hylton injured his left shoulder and Smith was disqualified for committing a deliberate foul.

Hylton's trainer Andrew Boland said yesterday that he had recovered from the injury and that they had a tactical plan to defeat Davis, which will be unveiled early in the fight.

Davis is, however, oozing confidence and has hinted that it could be an early night for spectators.

The series, which is approved by the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control, is being promoted by MJK Productions and is sponsored by J. Wray and Nephew, Claro, TVJ and Foska Oats.