Omar plans a ring walk to remember
Omar Davis…has his second fight this Saturday in Coventry
OMAR Davis, newest addition to Birmingham’s Eastside gym, has promised fans “something special” for a ring walk this Saturday.
“I’m keeping it under wraps,” he told me. “Not even the missus knows.”
The entrance for his Excelsior Club, Cannock, debut was certainly entertaining, with disco classic “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” blaring and the man himself dancing to the beat.
This time the theatricals have been cranked up.
That figures. The 27-year-old, who turned pro after only two amateur bouts, has the hallmark of a showman. The super-middleweight’s style is unorthodox, athletic and fluid and the man can definitely talk the talk. A construction industry manager by day, he’s articulate and never lost for words.
If Omar goes as far as he wants to go, the media will love him.
The second contest on his journey comes only two weeks after Davis’ landslide debut win over Konstantin Aleksandrov.
That suits Omar, from Birmingham but currently living in Walsall. “I want to stay active and climb up the rankings as quickly as I can,” he said. “I’m in the position where time is not on my side.
“Because I’m fighting again so soon, I was already fit. The only thing needed was fine tuning.”
This time, Zane Clark will be in the opposite corner at Coventry Sports Connexion on a show topped by Jess Barry’s Midlands title bid. It’s a decent test for Omar who excelled at basketball before finding boxing.
Clark’s confidence will be on a high after drawing, last time out, to Birmingham’s unbeaten Ryan Whelan in a barnstormer. Whelan and Omar share the same manager in Jon Pegg.
“We’re good friends,” said Omar, “so there’s a bit of payback.”
I was at ringside for Davis’ debut and he looked a useful newcomer. The loose, long punches were reminiscent of Johnny Nelson.
Seasoned Aleksandrov threw little back, however, and spent the four rounder in survival mode. Davis assures me he has power, but it’s hard to show it against an opponent who won’t take risks.
“You want to impress, every boxer wants to score a knockout,” he said. “But if someone is covering up, you have to box smart and use the rounds to learn. A few times he threw a good overhand right, so I had to stay switched on.”
Davis is a work in progress, but since walking through Eastside’s doors the progress has been rapid, he insisted.
He added: “It feels scary sometimes. Jon (Pegg) said the difference from when I came to Eastside and now is like night and day.
“Being in a gym with so many top fighters like Sam Eggington and Shakan Pitters, you feed off their energy. You take things in that you’re not even aware you’re taking in.”