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10/25/2005 Archived Entry: ""
Portland Boxer Jason Davis Takes Shot at TV Stardom
By Steve Brandon
Portland Tribune, Oct. 25, 2005
Jason Davis will never have to say,"I coulda been a contender." The 23-year-old fighter out of Portland's Knott Street Boxing Club returned last week from Las Vegas, where he did a pair of interviews for "The Contender."
Davis hopes to be one of 16 boxers picked for the reality series, which ESPN picked up after NBC didn't renew for a second season.
"They like me," he says. "They asked me basically about my entire life, how I got started boxing, what I do for work (he's a concrete finisher). Everybody says I look good on camera. I'll find out around mid-November if they want me to come to Los Angeles for a tryout."
That's where the producers would take a look at him in the ring before making their final selections.
"If they decide to pick guys around my weight, I've got a real good chance," Davis says.
The 5-9 Davis, who played soccer for Mountain View High in Vancouver, Wash., is trained by Rudy Garza and John Peters. He is 1-0 as a pro after winning the Oregon Golden Gloves 147-pound title four years in a row.
""The Contender" is my favorite show," he says. "It would be huge to be part of it. It would really put my name out there."
Davis is not related to Portland fighter Reggie Davis, but both are hoping to be on the undercard for the Nov. 19 HBO bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sharmba Mitchell at the Rose Garden. Another Portland fighter, Bo Marthaller, also is being looked at for that card, as possible opponent for Olympic champion Andre Ward.
