GERVONTA DAVIS
VS. LEO SANTA CRUZ
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO
KNOW ABOUT THE BIG FIGHT
When: Saturday, Oct. 31
Start time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT
Where: Alamodome, San Antonio
TV: Pay-per-view ($74.99)
Division: Junior lightweight
At stake: Santa Cruz’s WBA 130-pound title and Davis’ WBA secondary 135-pound title (not recognized by Boxing Junkie)
Odds: Davis 3½-1 (BetMGM)
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DAVIS BIO
Record: 23-0, 22 KOs
Current titles: WBA secondary lightweight
Other titles: IBF junior lightweight (2017)
Home country: United States (Baltimore)
Age: 25
Pro debut: 2013
Pro rounds: 79
Height: 5 feet, 5½ inches (166 cm)
Reach: 67½ inches (171 cm)
Stance: Southpaw
Trainer: Calvin Ford
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SANTA CRUZ BIO
Record: 37-1-1, 19 KOs
Current titles: WBA featherweight, WBA junior lightweight
Other titles: IBF bantamweight (2012-13), WBC junior featherweight (2013-15)
Home country: Mexico (Huetamo, Michoacan)
Age: 32
Pro debut: 2006
Pro rounds: 261
Height: 5 feet, 7½ inches (171 cm)
Reach: 69 inches (175 cm)
Stance: Orthodox
Trainer: Jose Santa Cruz (father)
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WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH
Gervonta Davis is one of the most-exciting young fighters in the world. The Baltimore product is a complete boxer with one-punch knockout power, as his record suggests. Twenty-three opponents, 22 knockouts. He has a massive following. And he has the backing of promoter Floyd Mayweather. He could become the sport’s next superstar. Santa Cruz is proven commodity, a four-division titleholder whose volume-punching style has confounded one world-class opponent after another. Something has to give on Saturday.
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FIVE KEY QUESTIONS
Will size play a significant role in the fight? Probably. Santa Cruz fought at 126 pounds only two fights ago and Davis is a big 130-pounder with crazy power.
Can Santa Cruz take Davis’ power? Not for long. Santa Cruz, who fights aggressively, is there to be hit. Davis will probably land big punches with consistency.
Will Davis make the agreed-upon 130 pounds? Probably. He had had weight issues but he moved his camp to Floyd Mayweather’s gym and seems focused.
For whom would a victory be bigger? Santa Cruz. Davis is supposed to win. An upset by the already-accomplished Santa Cruz would lift him to another level.
Did Santa Cruz make a mistake by pursuing this fight? No. If he wins, he’s a legend, If he loses, he can say dared to be great by taking on a bigger elite foe.
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WHY DAVIS WILL WIN
Davis’ combination of quickness, skills, punching power and size will be too much for Santa Cruz to overcome. “Tank,” an excellent counterpuncher, just needs to be patient, wait for his aggressive opponent to come to him and then chew him up with hard, accurate power shots. And if Santa Cruz decides to box? Davis he has the ability to adjust. He didn’t look good in his last fight, a 12th-round KO of Yuriorkis Gamboa in December. One problem: He didn’t throw enough punches. He must pick up his pace against Santa Cruz. And he probably will. He seems to have shed any distractions by training in Las Vegas. He appears to be as fit and mentally prepared as any previous fight.
WHY SANTA CRUZ WILL WIN
Santa Cruz has a time-tested winning formula on his side. He simply throws so many punches that his opponents don’t have the time or space to do what they want to do. It’s not difficult to imagine that Davis will have the same problems as his predecessors, even with his size and power advantages. If Santa Cruz feels Davis’ power and decides he needs to take a step back? The Mexican-born Angeleno has demonstrated that he can box if he has to. And, finally, Santa Cruz has experience on his side. He has fought 39 times, Davis 23. He has 261 professional rounds, Davis 69. He has been a pro for 14 years, Davis seven. He shouldn’t be overlooked.
PREDICTION
Santa Cruz should be applauded for having the confidence in himself to take this fight but it’s a stretch for him. He’s giving up too many advantages to Davis, who is quicker, bigger, stronger and punches harder. Davis is a smart fighter. He will methodically break down Santa Cruz with well-timed and well-placed power shots until the underdog can no longer take them.
Davis by KO 9
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ALSO ON THE CARD
- Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Karl, junior welterweights
- Regis Prograis vs. Juan Heraldez, junior welterweights
- Diego Magdaleno vs. Issac Cruz Gonzalez, lightweights
- Michel Rivera vs. Ladarius Miller, lightweights
- Jerry Perez vs. Joshua Zuniga, junior lightweights
- Julian Rodarte vs. Jose Moralez, lightweights