A fit and intensely motivated Tsetsi ‘Lights Out’ Davis hammered challenger Christopher ‘Shaka’ Henry into a fourth-round submission to open his campaign in a positive vein, and signalled his intention for a more positive result in the 2015 staging of the fifth Wray & Nephew White Overproof Contender Boxing Series at the Chinese Benevolent Association Auditorium on Wednesday night.

After taking a series of unanswered head and body blows from Davis, especially in the third and fourth rounds, Henry, who was a late replacement of Guyanese fighter Jermin King, threw in the towel to say he had had enough punishment for one night.

Davis, who entered the ring weighing 159 lb to Henry’s 156, and was runner-up in the Contender boxing series for the last two stagings, looked rejuvenated and showed great urgency in his approach to finishing the contest early.

But the Barbadian boxer was in no hurry to be knocked off his feet and in so doing used ring craft to extend the fight by being early on his ‘bicycle’ while using probing left jabs that landed but lacked the sting to hurt the marauding Davis.

Two rounds were enough for Davis to assess his opponent’s effectiveness. And having done that set about to destroy Henry with some heavy blows that when connected put the lighter man off balance.

The man who has vowed to shed the bridesmaid tag and win this year’s contest then entered the third round with great conviction as a man on a mission. He waded into Henry and got off a volley of telling blows that set the stage for further punishment. He then entered the fourth round with greater frequency in his attack that forced his opponent to concede victory by the TKO route after failing to respond to the bell in the fifth round.

“I am the people’s champion and I promise that this year will be my year,” Davis declared.

“So I am here again to move into the final and what better way there could be than to begin the journey in this manner. I always put on a show for the people and I think tonight they have nothing to complain about,” Davis added.

Henry, who took everything Davis hurtled at him, including the ‘kitchen sink’ and all, but failed to hit the canvas, said: “Much credit must go to Davis. It is true that I was short on preparation, and would have liked to have had a race or two before Davis, but let me repeat, take nothing away from Davis, he is in really good shape,” Henry reiterated.