Tsetsi Davis made a winning start to his 2016 Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender Boxing Series campaign with a fourth-round TKO overTeam America opponent Courtney McCleave at the Chinese Benevolent Association Auditorium on Wednesday night.

The fight was, by and large, a one-sided affair, and after two minutes and 20 seconds of the fourth round, McCleave had absorbed sufficient punishment from Davis to prompt his ringside handlers, Andrew Boland and Robert Harrison, to throw in the towel and end the fight.

Davis, whose aim is to the reach the semi-final stage and beyond for the fourth consecutive year, was asked why he did not finish off his American challenger much earlier.

“That was the original intention, but after failing to get the resistance that I was expecting from my opponent with his fancy footwork, I simply used the occasion to get some useful ring work,” he said.

“It was a very good exercise for me, as to get people to the gym to work out with me l have to pay them. And for that, I was not in any hurry to destroy the youngster. The longer I stayed in the ring with him it was better for me, as that would have helped to knock some of the ring rust off my shoulders, and by the fifth round, I would have stepped up the pace,” Davis added.

McCleave was entering the ring for his fourth career fight, but did not think that he was overmatched against Davis despite being rescued by his handlers from further punishment.

“I will say that I need to improve in some departments, most noticeably my fitness. I took his best punches and I am still standing. He (Davis) cannot knock me out and when I return for next year’s Contender, I will be in much better shape for a rematch,” McCleave said.