PEARL, Miss. (WLBT) – Undefeated Pearl boxer Kashaun \u201cBig Baby\u201d Davis has signed with Zuffa Boxing, putting a Mississippi fighter on one of the sport\u2019s biggest stages.<\/p>\n
The Pearl Boxing Club fighter is unbeaten as a professional and joins the sport\u2019s newest and fast-growing promotion. Launched by TKO Group Holdings and Saudi Arabia\u2019s Sela Sport, Zuffa is trying to do for boxing what the UFC did for mixed martial arts. Dana White leads it, along with Saudi entertainment chairman Turki Al-Sheikh, and now, a fighter from Pearl is on their roster.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about time\u2026 now I\u2019m gonna have the eyes on me\u2026 I can go out there and showcase my talent,\u201d Davis said. \u201cMan from Mississippi, it\u2019s hard to showcase your talent.\u201d<\/p>\n
From football to the ring<\/p>\n
Davis didn\u2019t grow up dreaming of boxing. He walked into Pearl Boxing Club at 12 years old just trying to get in shape for football.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came into it just to get in shape\u2026 and eventually I just stuck with it\u2026 boxing found me. I didn\u2019t find boxing,\u201d Davis said.<\/p>\n
The gym where it all started wasn\u2019t state of the art. Coach \u201cBombay\u201d Deshone Higginbottom built it from the ground up inside an old high school locker room.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey gave us the old Pearl High School locker room\u2026 and you see, we done made it into where we is\u2026 boxing is like life, man. You\u2019re gonna have adversity all the time,\u201d Higginbottom said.<\/p>\n
Davis took that lesson into the amateur ranks and dominated. He stacked championships before turning pro. Since then, he hasn\u2019t lost. His record stands at 11-and-0. Eleven knockouts. Six of them in the first round.<\/p>\n
To sharpen his skills, Davis has sparred with former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the only way you get better\u2026 spar guys on that level\u2026 that\u2019s how you get to that level,\u201d Davis said.<\/p>\n
Opening doors<\/p>\n
Higginbottom said the Zuffa deal is bigger than one fighter. He believes it opens a door for every young boxer in Mississippi watching from the sidelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf Kashaun \u2018Big Baby\u2019 Davis can do it \u2014 I could do it\u2026 and we got a place in Pearl, Mississippi\u2026 this is the place you can come and get it done at,\u201d Higginbottom said.<\/p>\n
For Davis, the goal has never changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cExpect greatness\u2026 expect me to put Mississippi on the map\u2026 and try to pave the way for others to do the same,\u201d Davis said.<\/p>\n
Davis\u2019 first fight under the Zuffa banner is expected this summer.<\/p>\n
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