The match started first, and then Keyshawn Davis weighed in.
This is the new order in boxing today, and Davis, the 2020 U.S. Olympic silver medalist and unbeaten lightweight contender, took full advantage of the tactic on Saturday night, watching his Top Ranked teammate and fellow lightweight Raymond Muratala win a decision over former 130-pound champion Tevin Farmer.
“You're no good,” Davis posted to “X.” “You really lost last night. Let's fight this year and show you how sorry you are.”
Wednesday's episode of Probox TV's “Deep Waters” focused on how the boxing world's badmouthing has morphed into instant social media posts and interviews on video websites.
“I'm not against it. It's a good thing. Badmouthing always spices things up,” analyst Paulie Malignaggi said.
Davis, the WBC, WBO and IBF No. 3 contender at lightweight, and Muratalla, the WBO and WBC No. 2 and IBF No. 4 contender, are both on the list of potential opponents for new WBO champion Denis Belincik.
“It's the same team, it's absolutely a doable fight … (they're) on the same page, looking to get a title shot,” former 140-pound champion Chris Algieri said on “Deep Waters.”
Algieri said pursuing such heated and “close” matches was “old school.”
Malignaggi praised the pair for creating “the hype and buzz to capture the attention of the fan base and their opponents” rather than waiting for the old-fashioned way of PR people arranging interviews with newspaper reporters or promoters setting the agenda and creating friction.
Still, Malignaggi remained skeptical, suggesting Top Rank may be encouraging an internal rivalry to raise the profile of both title aspirants.
“The way we look at it, Davis has the advantage, but what if (Top Rank) gives Murata a title shot and then Davis comes along and beats him?,” Malignaggi said. “Then Murata is a former champion and still holds the title, and there's a rivalry.”
Algieri said young fighters, led by Ryan Garcia, are stalking trending social media posts, reacting quickly to news and trying to get their names attached to high-profile events — a fast-forward version of what the great Muhammad Ali did to sell his fights.
“Technology is a multiplier,” Malignaggi said. “We've seen it develop with[Floyd]Mayweather, Tyson Fury… Ali was the standard-bearer.”
