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Mike CoppingerESPN
NEW YORK – Madonna. Michael Strahan. Tracy Morgan. Every time Gervonta Davis fights, the stars fly out in waves.
Saturday’s lightweight event at Barclays Center was no different, as 18,970 people in attendance to watch “The Tank” Davis sent Rolando Romero crashing into the ropes to end another standout reel with TKO in the sixth round. .
Davis has proven once again that he is one of the biggest stars in boxing. Barclays Center in Brooklyn? Sold out. His December battle with Isaac Cruz at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles? Another packed house. No matter what city he’s in, no matter who he’s up against, Davis is without a doubt one of the most prolific athletes in the world.
Now, it’s time for him to step up and fight one of the heaviest weight classes at 135 pounds, which Davis said after Saturday’s bout was his most comfortable.
Does anyone emerge from next week’s showdown between George Kambosos Jr. and Devin Haney for the undisputed championship. The point is, if Haney wins, the Kambosos is entitled to an immediate rematch.
But the largest batch of them is 135 pounds? Ryan Garcia.
Victory over Romero was the last in Davis’s multi-fight trade with Mayweather Promotions. Tank said in the lead-up he is likely to part ways with Floyd Mayweather, who has been motivating him since 2015, in favor of the versatility Canelo Alvarez enjoys as a free agent. That would certainly remove any obstacle – or reason – when it comes to pursuing the kind of high-level adversary Davis should be looking for.
“He’s covered,” Romero told ESPN Wednesday. “Let’s review Gervonta’s résumé since he won a world title. [Jose] Pedraza, who weighs 130 pounds. Liam Walsh, the weak British boxer. Francisco Fonseca, who [Davis] hit him in the back of the head and knock him out in round 1/8.
“Ryan Garcia knocks on the door [Fonseca] out in a round like nothing. … [Yuriorkis] Gamboa, who has both [Davis’] Close eyes. Then he fought [Leo] Santa Cruz, who weighed 118 pounds, who rose to 126 then to 130 as a favor for [advisor] Al Haymon. “
Of course, Romero was heavily criticized before the fight, but he made some highlights. Davis’ best win to date remains Pedraza’s 2017 TKO to claim his first title.
Despite the objections, the talent is evident. And on Saturday, Davis (27-0.25 KOs) showed a new class with the kind of patient tactic he uses round after round in the face of a dangerous puncher. He chose his pictures. He held on when he felt Romero’s power. It was a mature performance from an increasingly mature boxer.
“I know when to knock my opponent down and when to relax,” says Davis, 27. “There was someone in the crowd… and they told me to move forward, and I said, ‘Not yet. I have to loosen him up a little bit more. “
That’s exactly what Davis did, luring 26-year-old Romero onto the rope and then unleashing a left-handed blow that separated “Rolly” from his senses.
Garcia, already a top star and watching the fight, then yelled at Mayweather Promotions’ Leonard Ellerbe in an attempt to call for one of the biggest possible bouts in all of boxing. .
“The golden boy won’t put” Garcia anywhere near Davis, said Ellerbe, who promotes both Davis and Romero (14-1, 12 KOs). “The closest he’s come to Gervonta Davis is where he’s been tonight. He doesn’t want to fight the Tank. It’s all talk. Let’s all talk.”
That remains to be seen.
What’s clear: Davis doesn’t need a suitable dance partner to sell out arenas. But if he wants to truly unleash his enormous potential, he needs to fight someone like Garcia to reach new heights.
