'Koncrete' notches first win on Eurotrip

BY MIKE HOUSER

Appeal Sports Writer

Reno heavyweight "Koncrete" Kelvin Davis gave his career another kickstart on Saturday, taking a four-round unanimous decision over Paul King at Elephant & Castle Centre, in Southwark, London, England.

"It was easy," said Kelvin's brother/trainer/manager Kelly in a phone call from London on Monday. "The dude (King) just ran around, not wanting to get knocked out. "They even cut the rounds in half so he wouldn't get knocked out. We were told it would be an eight-rounder, but they changed it to four so the guy would take the fight."

The 28-year-old Davis, a former IBF cruiserweight champion, improved his record to 23-4-2 with 17 knockouts.

The 5-foot-7 Davis weighed in at 203 pounds, while the 6-3 King , who fell to 5-10-1 (1), was 234.

Davis left Reno on Oct. 3 in hopes of building his reputation and bank account overseas and what was to be a month-long sojourn in England has now turned into an indefinite stay.

"People are excited that (Kelvin) is here," Kelly said. "He's creating a buzz. Hopefully it all can come together."

Davis has been training at the All-Star Gym, in London. Kelly said Kelvin returned to sparring on Monday against England's No. 1-ranked cruiserweight, David Haye, 17-1 (16).

"He (Haye) has been knocking everybody out," Davis said. "He got the worst of it (sparring Kelvin) today."

Haye is scheduled to defend his European cruiserweight championship against unbeaten Giacobbe Fragomeni on Nov. 17. The bout will also be a WBC cruiserweight elimination bout.

Davis said it is much easier finding fights for Kelvin in England than it was in the United States.

Kelly said he's trying to get Kelvin on a Nov. 3 card as well as another on Nov. 17.

"The guys (promoters) here are trying to set him up, build up his name," Kelly said. "Haye's people told him, 'Anytime you fight, we're going to be there.'

"They show up when he spars. They're crazy as (hell) here. We're trying to work to something big here - possibly a title fight at cruiserweight."

Davis is seeking his second world title. He became Northern Nevada's first world champion on May, 1, 2004, when he defeated Ezra Sellers via eighth-round technical knockout for the vacant IBF cruiserweight belt.

The IBF stripped Davis of his belt in 2005.