Davis, Lewis set for action-packed fight

Leroy Brown, Gleaner Writer

Two of Jamaica's most popular boxers, Tsetsi Davis and Ramel Lewis, face off tonight at the Chinese Benevolent Association auditorium over eight rounds in the first of two semi-final bouts in the Wray & Nephew Middleweight Contender Series. There will be two preliminary bouts starting at 8:30 and the main attraction will start at 9:30.

Both boxers did well in their preliminary and quarter-final bouts and had similar victories.

Davis knocked out Marvin McKay in the second round of their preliminary fight and then had a points victory over Derrick Spencer in the quarter-finals. He takes a 10-2 record into the ring tonight.

Lewis also had a knockout victory in his first fight, putting away Lensworth McNaughton in the first round. He then had a more difficult fight before outpointing Kevin Hylton in six rounds. He has a 5-1 win-loss record.

Tonight's fight promises to be action packed and both men have been working hard since scoring their last victories - Davis on May 8 and Lewis on May 15.

Lewis determined

Lewis, who was in the finals of last year's welterweight competition and lost to Donovan 'Police' Campbell, is determined to make it back to the finals and told The Gleaner he was confident that he would get back there this year.

He switched camps before the series started and is now working with well-respected trainer Job Walters from Anchovy.

Walters told The Gleaner that his boxer was in great condition and that he was ready to go the distance if necessary.

"We will be taking it one round at a time, and we are confident of victory - whether it is on points or otherwise," he said.

Davis is also very confident. "I am ready and will be going to the finals," he said.

He pointed out that he has worked hard, that the cut he suffered in the quarter-finals has healed, and he is now "anxious to get into the ring. That is where I want to be."

It should be an action-packed encounter, with the more experienced Davis trying to nullify the superior punching power of Lewis with his boxing skills.

The series is being promoted by MJK Productions, with the approval of the Jamaica Boxing Board of Control. The sponsors are Wray & Nephew, Foska Oats, and TVJ. The winner of the competition will take home $1 million; the runner-up, $500,000; third, $250,000; and fourth, $200,000.