Davis is one of boxing’s young and rising stars around the lightweight division.
Despite the conviction in his voice, it’s hard for the undefeated Davis to make that claim when comparing his career to date against that of his peers, in terms of who he’s fought.
Sure, it’s an interesting challenge.
That victory started a trend of boxing’s four princes of boxing — not the “Four Kings” who thrilled boxing in the 1980s, but a promising group all the same — taking on tougher opponents.
The Baltimore, Maryland native has never been a unified champion since he won his first title in 2017, over junior lightweight Jose Pedraza.
The bout was for the WBA’s top belt at 130 and his “regular” 135-pound title, which perfectly illustrates the divisional limbo in which Davis exists.
His pro career is an extension of an approach in the amateur ranks: lining up the opponent in front of him and looking to be as dominant as possible.
“He puts butts in seats,” Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe said at the fight’s press conference in Atlanta in May.
It’s hard not to wonder how much higher that ceiling could be raised if he were to start facing, and then defeating, the biggest names of his generation.
“I never pay attention to what the next person is doing.
It’s the antithesis of what Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez did in May, when they fought for the undisputed junior welterweight title.
The boxing world is increasingly heading in that direction, with the sport’s highest profile stars looking to prove they are the best inside the ring.
And even with an impressive victory over Barrios on Saturday night, it’s hard to call Davis the best in any weight class.