“Some of them don’t have the footwork,” Ellis said mill city boxing When asked about some of the opponents Davis faced as a pro. The meaning is clear. Those battles are in order. Ortiz is not.

Ortiz is lighter on his feet. He changes the angle. He won’t stay in front of you long enough to line up. Ellis believes doing this early is most important. In his mind, the first few rounds will determine whether Davis’ night can be an easy one or whether it becomes a chore.

“Ortiz has really good feet,” Ellis said. “It’s going to be a tough task for Keyshawn in the early rounds.”

Ellis built this fight around one issue. Can Davis hurt Ortiz? If the answer is yes, then the battle is simplified. Ortiz slowed down, his movements subdued and his exchanges shorter. Davis can settle down.

If not, Ellis expects trouble, but not dramatic trouble. This won’t be a crash, just work. Rounds that need adjustment. A round that requires patience. The bullets piled together without separation.

“If he doesn’t hurt him, he has a job to do,” Ellis said. “It’s going to be a close decision. Probably a tie.”

That assessment flies in the face of the idea that Davis would have made it through the competition. It also puts pressure on Davis to show more control. Ellis believes Ortiz will force this conversation.

Ellis also turned the camera briefly to Ortiz. When reminded that Ortiz is pressing Teofimo Lopez in 2024, Ellis acknowledged his performance but felt it was a missed opportunity.

“I think he’s got to step it up to be successful,” Ellis said. “He didn’t put his foot on the gas pedal enough in that fight.”

This hesitation may be important here. Against Davis, the moment doesn’t stand still. If Ortiz creates space but fails to deliver, the round slips away.

Ellis isn’t predicting an upset. He predicts tensions. A battle in which neither side was completely separated. In a fight, footwork shapes the early story, and damage determines whether the story changes.