The DAZN Boxing Show discussed their prospect for the coming year.
There was a clear concern for Keyshawn Davis, the unbeaten 23-year-old American.
Davis’ last fight was against Juan Carlos Burgos in December to win the vacant WBO Inter-Continental lightweight title.
It seems likely that he will be in contention for a title shot in the coming years, especially if Devin Haney moves up a weight class and all four belts are vacated after he fights Vasily Lomachenko in the next few months.
Akin ‘Ak’ Reyes was clear about his pick.
“It’s Keyshawn Davis,” he told Barak Bess. “This young man, before he became a professional, he sat down with us before he was going to the Olympics, and there was a level of maturity to him even then, as a young man, that I knew would serve him well, but he’d have to back that up with skill.
“And at that time he had become a decorated amateur already, but I liked his attitude before even really watching him in a professional boxing match, and the first time I saw him in his pro boxing match I thought, ‘This guy has a professional style.’
"He is matching that up with style and killer instinct, and I think that Keyshawn Davis is the best prospect out there.”
Bess concurred, saying: “I remember we had him, but also he turned pro because the pandemic pushed the Olympics back, and he still went to the Olympics. You know how I knew he was different? After he lost that last match and he won that silver medal, he didn’t care. He always had a plan [to turn professional].
“I agree it’s Keyshawn Davis. Other fighters, I actually would have picked someone else if they’d had more fights this year, but they hurt their shoulder. I’m talking about Jared Anderson, and it probably would have been him. I know he was injured, so Keyshawn had three fights, and two fights were step-up fights. He’s stepping it up and still outclassing them and winning every round. I had to give it to the young man.”
Former world champion Sergio Mora rejected the notion that it could be Frank Martin, and also backed Davis.
“Frank Martin is 27 years old - that's not a prospect," Mora said. "Prospect means they have under 10 fights. Keyshawn Davis is the man, he has seven fights. That's your prospect who has the sky as the limit.”