Ben Davison Profile

Ben Davison is a British boxing trainer who is most known for helping Tyson Fury return to the top of the heavyweight division.

Davison has had perhaps the most unconventional routes into boxing than any other modern-day trainer. He boxed briefly as an amateur, but his attention soon turned to football.

He reached a good level and played for semi-professional side Stevenage Borough. Boxing has always been his first love, though, the chance meetings with Fury and Billy Joe Saunders opened the door for him to make a career in boxing as a full time trainer having previously helped fighters with diet nutrition, strength and conditioning and fitness.

Speaking about his rise in the sport, Davison said: "My Dad boxed as an amateur and I was involved in boxing since before I could walk. I then boxed as an amateur but then I played football at a decent level for Stevenage.

"I was on and off with boxing and then Billy Joe Saunders asked me to work for him. I had to make a decision and to be honest, I've had much more emotional pleasure from training. I've found my niche and I'm lucky to have done so."

Saunders and Davison have known each other for some years and the duo briefly worked together in 2016 after Saunders split from trainer Jimmy Tibbs, who had trained the southpaw since he turned professional in 2008.

Under Davison, Danny Vaughan and Johnney Roye, Saunders made a successful first defence of his WBO middleweight title. Saunders then opted to appoint Adam Booth for a stint in 2017 which saw him in no fights before relocating to Sheffield to link up with Dominic Ingle.

In March 2019, Saunders confirmed Davison as his full-time trainer, and he was in charge for his second world title triumph at super middleweight against Shefat Isufi.

Davison and Saunders have continued to work together in 2020 and were training in Las Vegas ahead of an expected press conference to take on Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez. However, with no contracts signed and the coronavirus pandemic forcing sport to postpone events, the fight fell through.

In September 2020, Tibbs confirmed he was working with Saunders again after nearly five years from splitting.

In 2020, Josh Taylor confirmed Davison as his new trainer after a messy split from Shane McGuigan and Cyclone Promotions. Undefeated world champion Taylor unified the 140-pound division by beating Regis Prograis.

This fight was the final of the World Boxing Super Series at London's O2 Arena in October 2019. In the aftermath of this win, Taylor split with Barry McGuigan's Cyclone promotion and subsequently cut ties with trainer Shane McGuigan.

Taylor is represented by Bob Arum's Top Rank and MTK Global and announced Davison as his new trainer despite having a brief trial with Adam Booth.

Davison was just 23-years-old when he first met Fury in the back of a car during his break in Marbella. Fury and Saunders have long been friends, so it was only a matter of time before the "Gypsy King" would eventually meet Davison.

At this point, Fury had hit rock bottom. Weighing over 300-pounds and abusing his body with alcohol and drugs, the Morecombe fighter attempted suicide on several occasions. Davison is credited as one of the people who had a huge impact on turning Fury's life around.

The young trainer moved in with Fury and lived with his family for 14 months as he worked with Fury to help him rediscover his fitness.

He helped Fury shed more than 100-pounds - an equivalent to losing Kal Yafai in body weight - which sparked his return to the ring in 2018 alongside promoter Frank Warren.

Fury's first fight since ending the dominant reign of Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 took place three years later in June against 39-year-old Sefer Seferi.

Tipping the scales at 276-pounds, Fury toyed with his opponent for the majority of the fight before Seferi's corner threw in the towel after round four.

The "Gypsy King" fought Francesco Pianeta next in what proved to be another comfortable tune-up fight in Belfast. Soon after, his eagerly anticipated fight with Wilder for the WBC world heavyweight title was confirmed.

It proved to be a memorable heavyweight fight which saw Fury miraculously get up and beat the 10-count in the final round. Despite two knockdowns, most observers felt Fury had done enough to win the green-and-gold belt.

A rematch was inevitable between the pair, but Fury had two fights prior to his second world title shot. The second of which was against undefeated Swede Otto Wallin on Mexican Independence Weekend in 2019.

While Fury outpointed the Swedish southpaw, he suffered a horrific cut above his eye which later required 47 stitches.

It would be the last time Fury and Davison linked up with SugarHill Steward - nephew of the great Emanuel - taking over the reins alongside Fury's cousin and former world champion Andy Lee.

The pair remain good friends and Fury has since refused to rule out a reunion before he hangs the gloves up.

Speaking after Fury's win over Wilder, Davison proved his class in an interview with talkSPORT. "What's most important to me is Tyson being victorious. Tyson had said to me he wanted to adopt a more aggressive approach to it.

"It proved to be the right decision for him and obviously I wanted him to be victorious more than anything. So as well as a coach and fighter relationship, we had a friendship that was more than anything else.

"I wanted him to win and if that meant I was going to be there and - put bluntly - if it meant that I wasn't going to gain from it financially, that doesn't matter.

"As long as what was best for him, and it proved to be the right decision."

Taylor has been out of the ring for 11-months now since his crowning moment against Prograis in the final of the World Boxing Super Series. His inactivity is due to the coronavirus pandemic which has hit boxing hard with no live gate possible for fights.

During his inactivity, Taylor has changed trainers and joined a new promotion in Top Rank.

The "Tartan Tornado" defeated Thai boxer Apinun Khongsong at BT Sport Studios, London in September 2020. Taylor is expected to take on Jose Ramirez next - who holds the WBC and WBO titles.

Jack Catterall - manadatory challenger to Ramirez's WBO crown - has agreed to step aside for the unification to take place. Taylor has spoken of his ambition to face Teofimo Lopez, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr before retiring.