Ohara Davies is full of renewed vigour after returning to 'father figure' trainer Tony Cesay
Ohara Davies (19-2, 14KOs) lifts the lid on his renewed calm, credence, confidence and certitude ahead of the huge #GoldenContract campaign.
Cesay – a famous amateur who won the 1999 national senior championships – worked with Davies in his youth and has returned once again to guide the powerful ‘Two Tanks’ ahead of the #GoldenContract tournament.
As he prepares to enter the draw for next weekend’s hotly-anticipated quarter-finals at York Hall, Davies has paid tribute to a life-long mentor.
The hard-hitting Hackney inhabitant declared: “Tony means a lot to me. He’s the closest thing I’ve ever had to a father figure.
“When I was young and in trouble, he got me into boxing. It kept me off the streets and he made sure I couldn’t go back there to sell drugs and fight. I had to be in the gym.
“As I got older, we went our separate ways because I thought I knew better but as the story of the prodigal son goes, now I’m back.
“Tony has had a big impact on my career the last few months and it has been so positive. He reminds to work hard and focus properly every day.
“I listen to Tony when he tells me how to rest as well. He says I should be at home on the couch and not out in restaurants and bars living the life of a player. I have to live the life of a fighter and train like a warrior.
“I’ve seen improvements in my sparring, my fitness and my confidence. This is the best shape I’ve been in during my five years as a fighter. I’m a totally different animal and I’m excited.“
OD has been through his share of trainers during his five-and-a-half-year career, starting with Anthony Yarde's trainer Tunde Ajayi in 2014, before moving to Tony Sims when signed to Matchroom. After a huge falling out with Sims and Hearn, Davies teamed up with Frank Warren and MTK.
Not many know that the talented 140-pounder racked up an amateur career of 18 fights unbeaten. He moved to professional boxing as his style, despite effective, was always more suited to the paid ranks, where he has collected WBC Silver, WBA and WBC International super-lightweight titles, as well as the English crown at lightweight.
The all-important draw for the #GoldenContract competition, which includes Davies’ bitter rival Tyrone McKenna alongside the likes of Zhankosh Turarov, Darren Surtees, Lewis Benson, Anthony Yigit, Logan Yoon and Mohamed Mimoune, takes place next Tuesday.
The quarter-finals take place for the tournament at the home of British boxing, York Hall, on November 22 – live on Sky Sports in the UK in association with Matchroom Boxing and on ESPN+ in the US in association with Top Rank.
MTK Golden Contract super-lightweight tournament early predictions
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Read Danny Flexen's revealing interview with Ohara Davies – OD’s Dead and Gone