Due to working in a reserved occupation, Davies was not conscripted into the British Forces after the outbreak of World War II. He fought three times in 1940, a knockout win over Billy Evans, a points loss to future British and Commonwealth Champion Dick Turpin and a technical knockout over Ivor Pickens. A newspaper report following his defeat of Pickens, who was once the Wales Welterweight Champion, proclaimed that Davies was a Welsh belt contender.Lee (2009) p.277 Davies fought another four fights in 1941, winning three my knockout, but losing to Billy Jones of Cwmparc on a points decision. He began 1942 with a rematch against Jones, but the result was the same, a points loss. He followed this loss with a string of three wins, knockouts over Billy "Kid" Andrews and Trevor Burt, and then a disqualification decision over Jimmy Moore in Davies' first fight outside Wales, at the Stadium in Liverpool. On 3 August 1942 Davies faced Battersea boxer Dave McCleave, who the previous year had won the British South Area light heavyweight title and as an amateur won the Empire Games welterweight gold medal. McCleave won on a points decision. Davies then won a string of five victories before closing the year with a draw against Fulham based Harry Watson and a points loss to Frank Duffy at the Stadium in Liverpool.
