From Roy Jones Jr.’s early career dominance through Joe Calzaghe’s 10-year run as champion and to the recently concluded six-fighter tournament, the super-middleweights have remained one of boxing’s most visible classes since its formation in the mid-1980s.

Dyah Davis understands he is not ready to challenge the division’s current kingpins — Andre Ward and Lucian Bute — but the Fort Lauderdale resident believes he can make his move toward contention in 2012 — “early 2013 at the latest,” he said.

Davis will have an immediate chance and at a notable setting. In the first nationally-televised fight of the year, Davis will face Alfonso Lopez on Friday in Key West. The bout will be broadcast as part of ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights.

That Davis, 30, now envisions title fights represents an evolution for someone who took up boxing at age 23. But thanks to his deep boxing bloodlines, Davis managed a smooth transition into the sport.

Davis’ father, Howard Davis Jr., was one of the standout performers of the famed U.S. Olympic team that captured five gold medals in the 1976 Games. The elder Davis now is one of boxing’s most respected trainers and oversaw his son’s development in the early stages of his career.

“My father had his career and now it’s my turn,” Davis said. “The bottom line is it’s good to know I have his support and can learn from his experiences.”

An added motivator is winning a professional world title for the family. The elder Davis could not parlay his Olympic performance into professional championships like teammates Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael and Leon Spinks and Leo Randolph.

“Winning a world title is what I want for me and him,” Davis said. “When I do that, we can cherish it together. I don’t think either one of us will be happier or prouder than the other when that day comes.”

Taylor returns

Former world middleweight champion Jermain Taylor made a successful return after a two-year absence Friday night. Taylor scored an eighth-round technical knockout over Jessie Nicklow in Cabazon, Calif.

Taylor (29-4-1, 18 KOs) outclassed Nicklow throughout the super-middleweight bout. The punch buildup and Nicklow’s inability to mount a fight-changing rally prompted referee Ray Corona to stop the fight at 36 seconds of the round.

The bout was Taylor’s first since a 12th-round knockout loss against Arthur Abraham in Oct. 2009. Taylor, 33, was hospitalized after the bout. Six months earlier, Taylor suffered a similarly-brutal knockout loss against Carl Froch.

Coming up

Juan Carlos Payano and Claudio Marrero, former members of the Dominican Republic Olympic team, will appear in Saturday night’s card at the Westin Diplomat Resort in Hollywood.

The card’s main event will feature Hollywood resident Ed Paredes and Michael Lozada in a welterweight bout scheduled for 10 rounds.