Gervonta Davis was stunned to be taught final week that Ryan Garcia determined to skip what was purported to be a tune-up struggle for Davis’ rival January 28.
Garcia was tentatively scheduled to struggle Filipino light-weight Mercito Gesta that evening. The undefeated Davis is immeasurably higher than Gesta (33-3-3, 17 KOs), however Gesta no less than is left-handed, like Davis, and would’ve given Garcia some rounds with a southpaw earlier than he might head towards a way more harmful showdown versus Davis.
Baltimore’s Davis and Garcia, of Victorville, California, have agreed to struggle later subsequent yr, maybe as early as April 15, at a catch weight of 136 kilos. Their 12-round bout is contingent upon Davis defeating Hector Luis Garcia of their 12-round struggle for Davis’ WBA world light-weight title January 7 at Capital One Area in Washington, D.C.
Ryan Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) final fought July 16, when he dropped Dominican veteran Javier Fortuna (37-4-1, 26 KOs, 2 NC) thrice on his technique to a sixth-round knockout at Crypto.com Area in Los Angeles. Garcia didn’t give a motive when he introduced he received’t take a bout earlier than he might face Davis.
A crucial Davis gave an trustworthy evaluation of Ryan Garcia’s option to skip the Gesta struggle Wednesday throughout an open exercise at fifth Avenue Health club in Miami Seashore, Florida.
“I believe Ryan’s being lazy not taking a struggle earlier than our struggle,” Davis mentioned. “I don’t know. When he was developing, he was within the fitness center and every thing, and now he’s obtained some cash and a bit of little bit of fame, and he’s partying and stuff like that. It occurs to a majority of us, but it surely’s for him to tighten up earlier than it’s too late.”
Davis-Ryan Garcia is taken into account one of many greatest fights in boxing from a industrial standpoint. If the favored Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) can defeat Hector Luis Garcia (16-0, 10 KOs, 3 NC) of their Showtime Pay-Per-View important occasion, the end result of his trial scheduled to start out February 16 in Baltimore might decide the date of his struggle towards Ryan Garcia.
The 28-year-old Davis will face costs associated to 14 misdemeanor motorcar violations he allegedly dedicated throughout a hit-and-run accident that occurred in November 2020 in his hometown. Davis allegedly drove his Lamborghini via a pink gentle and collided with a Toyota Solara, wherein 4 occupants sustained recoverable accidents, and left the scene earlier than authorities arrived.
If Davis-Ryan Garcia occurs, nevertheless, Davis hopes it encourages their undefeated contemporaries to take comparable dangers.
“I’m hoping that the Ryan Garcia struggle will open up doorways for everybody to make extra huge fights,” Davis mentioned. “It additionally exhibits that I’m not ducking anyone.”
Keith Idec is a senior author/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He may be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.