Latest News - August 19th, 2006 - Former International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion Kelvin Davis fought in his hometown of Reno for the first time in five years. Davis was relentless stalking Chris Thomas before taking a fifth-round technical knockout victory when referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight 49 seconds into the round. It was the first victory for Davis since he won the cruiserweight title with an eighth-round technical knockout over Ezra Sellers in Miami, Fla., on May 1, 2004. After Davis' title was stripped by the IBF for not defending it, he had two losses and a six-round draw before stopping Thomas. "I'm strong. I've got my goals back in my life, my dreams back," Davis said. "I'm going to be the heavyweight champion." Davis was in control throughout his fight, knocking down Thomas in the first round. But Thomas, from Chicago, who had lost to Davis on a second-round technical knockout in Indianapolis six years ago, was able to get his composure back and at least slow down Davis a little by jabbing and moving. But to begin the fifth, Thomas got caught by a looping right that sent him reeling to the ropes and Davis moved in to finish him. Davis got him into further trouble with a right uppercut and a left hook and intensified the pressure to the body and head before Bayless stopped the bout. "I unleashed the combination," Davis said. "I really didn't know how bad he was hurt until a left hook." The 5-foot-6 Davis, who weighed 205 for the fight, has always been compared to Mike Tyson and is nicknamed Lil' Tyson, but during the bout he told his brother Kelly, who trains and manages him, that he wanted to do "a Joe Frazier" and it was a pretty fair facsimile when it came to relentless pressure. But earlier Kelly Davis had tried to calm down the emotional fighter. "He was just trying too hard for the crowd, trying to make a good showing, trying too hard for it," said the trainer. Davis knocked down Thomas with a left hook to the jaw with 30 seconds left in the first round. After taking the eight count, Thomas was rocked by three overhand rights to the side of the head in the final 10 seconds of the round. Thomas, who weighed 196 pounds for the bout, dropped to 16-6-2. "I felt great, man," Davis said. "My brother really got me prepared for the fight, my confidence level and everything. It was a good feeling to be back in Reno." Davis is going to get buiser in the ring, facing Ernest Mateen in St. Louis Sept. 21 and Michael Simms at Sacramento in November. Also on the undercard, Chris Arreola, 241, Riverside, Calif., ran his record to 17-0 with 15 knockouts on a fourth round TKO over Damian Norris, 207, Las Vegas. In other fights, Eddie Chambers, 214, Homewood, Pa., took a TKO over Domonic Jenkins, 214, Dallas, at 2:17 of the fifth round; Ty Barnett, 134, Washington, D.C., knocked out Ruben Jacoby, 135, Colorado Springs, at 2:59 of the first round and Maxell Taylor, 154, Baltimore, took a four-round decision over Oscar Gonzalez, 155, Tampa, Fla.
May 1st 2004 - Kelvin Davis TKO's Ezra Sellers in the 8th round of their IBF Championship bout to capture his first world championship. Kelvin dominated Sellers throughout the fight and had won every round on all of the judges scorecards. Kelvin showed the patience and poise of a world-class fighter. It was the first time he had KO'd an opponent after the 7th round. Davis stalked and tormented Sellers landing his powerful overhand right throughout the fight. Sellers was saved by the bell in the 4th round after being knocked into the ropes by a lightning-fast combination and then falling to the canvas. Had it been another referee the fight would have probably been over then, as Sellers barely beat the count. Thankfully the ref let the action continue as Davis put on a clinic showcasing his boxing skills. In the 5th round Sellers was cut above both eyes. Davis continued to connect repeatedly with Sellers' head and body throughout the 6th and 7th rounds. Then in the 8th round Davis dropped Sellers with a left hook. A short time later Sellers was knocked down again with a left hook after dodging two overhand rights. Sellers fell to the canvas voluntarily holding is head and grimacing in pain. That's when the ref wisely stopped the fight giving Kelvin his first world championship. After the fight Kelvin showed good sportsmanship to Sellers. When interviewed in the ring after the fight he thanked God, his Mom, Don King, and his brother Kelly for his dedication and motivation.
Kelvin on the Web:
IBF/USBA orders Davis-Bell rematch
Interview with Ringsports Magazine
Davis KO's Rogerio Lobo in 1st Round
Kelvin in the News:
Davis gets decision against Azille
Tyson gets tattoo like Kelvin's
Kelvin dreams big
Davis takes on Lobo
Koncrete a local hero
Davis has big punch
Davis wants his shot at title
Bell turns down rematch
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