Ishmael Davis

Last updated
Ishmael Davis
Personal information
Nickname
The Black Panther [1]
NationalityEnglish
Born (1995-04-01) 1 April 1995 (age 30) [1]
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm) [1]
Weight Super-welterweight
Boxing career
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record [2]
Total fights18
Wins15
Win by KO6
Losses3

Ishmael Davis (born 1 April 1995) is an English professional boxer. He has held the British and Commonwealth super-welterweight titles since November 2025.

Contents

Career

Having taken up boxing aged 12, [3] Davis turned professional in 2018, defeating Patryk Buczek on points over four rounds in his debut at Elland Road Banqueting Suite in Leeds on 7 September that year. [4]

He won his first 13 fights, [4] before stepping in on five days notice as a replacement opponent for Josh Kelly on the undercard of the Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois world heavyweight title fight at Wembley Stadium in London on 21 September 2025. [5] Davis lost by split decision with two of the ringside judges scoring the bout 115–113 and 115–114 respectively for his opponent, while the third had it a 114–114 draw. [6] [7]

Next he took another short-notice assignment, facing Serhii Bohachuk at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 21 December 2024, as part of a bill headlined by the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury. [8] After agreeing to take the fight with only two weeks warning, Davis was knocked to the canvas in the second round and, although he recovered to continue the contest, he lost when his corner team retired him at the end of the sixth round. [9] [10]

He challenged WBA Continental super-welterweight champion Caoimhín Agyarko at Windsor Park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 13 September 2025. [11] Despite sending his opponent to the mat in the 12th round, Davis lost via split decision with one judge favouring him 115–112, but being over-ruled by their two colleagues who both preferred Agyarko by a score of 114–113. [12] [13]

On 10 October 2025, he broke his losing streak when he defeated Elliot Eboigbe on points over six rounds back at Elland Road Banqueting Suite in Leeds. [14]

Five weeks later, on 15 November 2025, Davis challenged Commonwealth super-welterweight champion Sam Gilley at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London with the vacant British title also on the line. Davis won by unanimous decision to claim the first titles of his professional career. [15] [16]

He is scheduled to make the first defense of his titles against English super-welterweight champion Bilal Fawaz at Nottingham Arena on 21 February 2026. [17] [18]

Personal life

Davis became the father of twins aged just 14 and spent two spells in prison for selling drugs before his boxing career began. [3] [4] [14]

Professional boxing record

18 fights15 wins3 losses
By knockout61
By decision92
No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
18Win15–3 Sam Gilley UD1215 Nov 2025 Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, EnglandWon Commonwealth and vacant British super-welterweight titles
17Win14–3Elliot EboigbePTS610 Oct 2025Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
16Loss13–3 Caoimhín Agyarko SD1213 Sep 2025 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern IrelandFor WBA Continental super-welterweight title
15Loss13–2 Serhii Bohachuk RTD6 (12), 3:00 21 Dec 2024 Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
14Loss13–1 Josh Kelly MD12 21 Sep 2024 Wembley Stadium, London, England
13Win13–0 Troy Williamson UD1223 Mar 2024Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
12Win12–0Ewan MackenzieTKO8 (10), 2:4411 Nov 2023 Newcastle Arena, Newcastle, England
11Win11–0Lesther EspinoTKO7 (8), 1:1624 Jun 2023Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
10Win10–0Dustin AmmannTKO5 (8), 1:0511 Nov 2022 Sheffield Arena, Sheffield, England
9Win9–0Gabor GorbicsTKO5 (8), 2:3518 Jun 2022Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
8Win8–0Zane ClarkPTS618 Mar 2022Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
7Win7–0Darryl SharpPTS419 Sep 2021Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
6Win6–0Sam OmidiTKO1 (4), 2:1615 Dec 2018Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
5Win5–0Liam GriffithsPTS46 Sep 2019Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
4Win4–0Victor EdaghaPTS425 May 2019Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
3Win3–0Dwain GrantTKO3 (4), 2:102 Dec 2018Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
2Win2–0Scott HillmanPTS423 Nov 2018Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England
1Win1–0Patryk BuczekPTS47 Sep 2018Elland Road Banqueting Suite, Leeds, England

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ishmael Davis". tapology.com. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  2. "Boxing record for Ishmael Davis". BoxRec .
  3. 1 2 "Father of twins at 14 and prison at 18 - reformed Davis set for title shot". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Who is Ishmael Davis? Get to know the Leeds boxer fighting on Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn undercard". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  5. "Ishmael Davis steps in to face Josh Kelly on Saturday". badlefthook.com. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  6. "Josh Kelly Survives Late Sting To Overcome Ishmael Davis". 3kingsboxing.com. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  7. "Josh Kelly Overcomes Final Round Scare in Otherwise Dull Fight Against Ishmael Davis". bigfightweekend.com. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  8. "Israil Madrimov (Bronchitis) Out, Serhii Bohachuk To Now Face Ishmael Davis On Usyk-Fury II Undercard". The Ring. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  9. "Serhii Bohachuk forces Ishmael Davis round six retirement". Boxing News Online. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  10. "Boxer suffers painful fate after bravely stepping in at short-notice on Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury undercard". Talksport. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  11. "Agyarko vs. Davis: WBA Continental Super Welterweight Title Clash in Belfast". wbaboxing.com. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  12. "Caoimhin Agyarko resists 'horrific' eye injury to defeat Ishmael Davis". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  13. "Caoimhin Agyarko outpoints Ishmael Davis in fiery Belfast encounter". Boxing News Online. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Ishmael Davis prepares to usher in 'the end of the beginning' against Sam Gilley". The Ring. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  15. "Ishmael Davis claims a pulsating points victory over Sam Gilley in London". Boxing Scene. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  16. "Ishmael Davis wins British 154-pound title by razor-thin decision after war with Sam Gilley". The Ring. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  17. "Ishmael Davis' First British Title Defence vs. Bilal Fawaz Set For Feb. 21". The Ring. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  18. "Ishmael Davis confirms first Lonsdale Belt defence in comedy skit with highly-rated English challenger". DAZN. Retrieved 14 December 2025.