Каларада-Спрынгс, Круг. (Чэрвеня 8, 2018) Overcoming adversity is something many people deal with throughout their lives, and it makes that person who they are. For Keyshawn Davis, he has been overcoming adversity from the beginning, and he is now on his way to the top of the boxing world.

Davis began boxing when he was just nine-years-old, after his mother took him and two of his brothers to the gym. They were constantly fighting each other and fighting in school. After about an hour of watching two kids around his age spar his mother asked if they wanted to sign up. The next day Keyshawn and his two brothers were in the gym training.

З тых часоў, Davis has won numerous titles and is now on his first elite high-performance squad following his win at the 2017 ЗША бокса нацыянальных чэмпіянатаў. Following that win, he has made Colorado Springs, Круг. a second home, as he spends a great deal of his time training at the United States Olympic Training Center.

Training for his first year at the elite level began with one of the largest multi-nation training camps USA Boxing has ever hosted. Davis got the opportunity to spar with not only his American teammates, but boxers from Great Britain, New Zealand and Poland. The preparation led to one of his proudest moments of his young career, his first elite international tournament and title at the Strandja Tournament in Bulgaria.

“It was a very different experience, being that it was my first time out of the country,” stated Davis. “I really had to get used to the different environment, especially the time difference, as it threw off my sleep schedule at first.”

Аднак, he did not let anything distract him from reaching the top of the podium.

“The feeling was just so unreal,” сказаў Дэвіс аб сваім залатым медалі ў Балгарыі. “Я сказаў сабе, што гэта толькі адно золата, і мне трэба стаяць тут пасля кожнага турніру. Гэта было проста выдатнае пачуццё.”

Неўзабаве пасля яго перамогі ў Балгарыі, Дэвіс вярнуўся на рынг, прадстаўляючы каманду ЗША ў матчы ЗША супраць ЗША. IRL Паўночна -Усходні бокс -тур. Баі толькі на адным з трох прыпынкаў тура, Дэвіс зрабіў кожную хвіліну важнай, як ён дасягнуў яшчэ адной уражлівай перамогі перад вялікай колькасцю амерыканскіх прыхільнікаў.

Аднак, да поспеху прыйшла барацьба.

“Я дзіця з Норфолка, Уіл. што пачалося з нічога; Проста мая маці і яе пяцёра дзяцей,” stated Davis.

“Як ішло жыццё, На рынгу мне стала лепш, але за межамі кальца было жудасна, ад праблем са злосцю да накіравання ў псіхушку,” працягваў Дэвіс. “I would’ve never thought I would be in the position I am today, so I thank God that he blessed me with all my supporters; from my sisters, Shanice and Shantel Davis, also my brothers, Keon and Kelvin Davis, and of course my mother, Wanda Davis. Without them I wouldn’t be here today. I am a walking miracle and I just want to show the world what Keyshawn Davis really can do.”

Helping Keyshawn get past his struggles has been his coach who has been there from the beginning, Kay Korma, а таксама 2016 Olympic silver medalist Shakur Stevenson.

“Last year when I was put in the mental home, they were both right there pushing me to get back on track,” Davis stated. “They never gave up on me or doubted me. They always knew what I was capable of, even though I was in a bad place.”

Another source of motivation and help came from another teammate, Трой Айли, who has been there by his side getting to experience Keyshawn’s first year as an elite with him.

“Troy has been a huge help for me during my first year on the elite high-performance squad,” mentioned Davis. “He has been telling me what foods I might need on a trip to help me maintain weight.”

When Davis went to Bulgaria for his first international tournament, Troy was there representing Team USA with him. “He told me how he felt his first time fighting internationally, and I just took all his information and used it to my advantage.”

Now the goal is to continue training and being successful at the international level. He has hopes of becoming an Olympic Champion in 2020 and being able to give back to his family.

“My biggest motivation is just to give my family a better life.”

With one gold under his belt, Davis will look for his second international title at the 2018 Chemistry Cup later this month. You can continue to follow his journey to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics through social media via Instagram (@keyshawndavis1) or SnapChat (@key4999).