Devin Haney vs Keyshawn Davis will be the two last men standing at 147 lbs in 5 years.

No, he's not heavy handed and he's not a devastating power puncher. I saw enough of his fights. He landed like 1 million clean punches on a small African dude in his second pro fight and the guy didn't go down and wasn't even hurt or buzzed. He's a good volume puncher but he has no game changing power at all. At least so far. He might develop it later on in his career after moving up. Who knows.

And the comparison with Floyd is bollocks. Floyd was already a World Champion at 130 at his age. He beat world class opposition in the pros while Davis fought for bums and cab drivers so far.

I think Davis lacks defense and a educated jab. He's throwing a lot of heat even when he's not really in a position of landing those shots. He's a decent volume puncher though. He's passing the eye test but it's way too early to say that he's going the full way.

 

Gee, what other little African guy didn’t go down recently?
Did you see Keyshawn’s last fight? Did you see him stop guys in the amateurs, even at the Olympic Games? I wasn’t talking about his age in comparison to Floyd. I’m talking about four fights into their pro careers. I don’t know if you were around at the time but Floyd wasn’t seen as a particularly special fighter until much later into his pro career. When it comes to potential and the eye test he is far above Floyd at this stage. Give it time, at the moment your evaluation of him has nothing.

 

A comparison with Floyd only makes sense if you compare them by the age not by 4 fights into their careers. Floyd was 19 when he turned pro. Keyshawn almost four years older.

I'm not as high as you on Davis but thats ok. If he fights better competition and looks as good as he does now, i might chance my evaluation. But so far i just see a flashy guy being way too big and strong for the majorit of his opponents.

 

I don’t think getting rocked by a big right hand from Linares is that big a deal. He dropped Loma but everyone just brushes off that comparison

 

The way Shakur Stevenson was just a little bit behind his Cuban rival, is the same way that Keyshawn is a little bit behind his Cuban rival. The difference is that Keyshawn’s Cuban rival might be one of the top three boxers I’ve ever seen. I’m a big believer in Keyshawn just based on that.

 

I think it’s the response that makes people concerned about Haney. He was clearly hurt and didn’t seem to recover for the next couple of rounds with all the hugging and looking unsteady. Lomachenko might have been just as hurt and not shown it, but he pressed forwards as if it was a flash knockdown. That’s telling you what they believe about their chins and ability to absorb shots. Then you look at Haney getting wobbled and dazed by JoJo punches at times.
Haney has that Amir Khan/David Price reaction to punches that only truly chinny fighters have. He’s getting knocked out soon, which is a shame because he’d be a pound for pound fighter if he had either chin or power. The poor guy has all the skills but neither chin or power. Maybe his chin will improve when he goes up in weight.

 

There is a difference between getting dropped with a flush KD like Loma was OR getting rocked and losing his legs like Haney. It's a sign of bad punch resistance. There is no shame in getting dropped but recovering is an important thing and Loma recovered fairly well. Haney unfortunately couldn't recover at all. So i think it's a big deal. At least when Haney moves up and faces a hard puncher at 140 or 147. Linares is a true 135er. He was ko'd in one rund at 140.

 

I love Devin but sooner or latter that chin lets him down and his lack of power at a bigger weight is really going to be a bridge too far.
Devin loses any of his speed he's a completely different fighter.

 

Difference is, Haney was wobbly for 2 rounds from that 1 punch. Loma recovered well.

 

Floyd had crazy dimensions for a FW and more speed. I would say more of other stuff too but the first two are indisputable.

I really like how Davis has gone about his career and I hope it works out. He showed a ton of heart running into that Andy Cruz buzz saw again and again and always coming to win.

I wish he had just a little more in the physical gifts department, a few more inches of reach or more power.

 

Here is Floyd in his second pro fight. He is way behind Keyshawn, especially in speed and physical gifts. He looks amateurish and his defense is poor in comparison to Keyshawn as well. Watch this and then go watch a Keyshawn pro fight.

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I was at Davis' last fight and he looked great live. More of a pro style certainly. But he doesn't have the obvious high ceiling Floyd's handspeed and frame combo gave him.

Davis has great skill and works hard but I worry that he will run into someone who has great skill and works hard and has freakish physical gifts. That just seems to happen in professional athletics.

 

Davis is the guy with great skill who works hard and has freakish physical gifts.

 

Nah dont see it.

Five years from now Inoue will be the undisputed welterweight Champion.