Boom!
Just like that, Gervonta Davis turned a thrilling back-and-forth brawl into a highlight-reel, one-punch knockout of gutsy Leo Santa Cruz in the sixth round to take Santa Cruz’s 130-pound title Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Santa Cruz was in the midst of his best round when, with his back to the ropes, Davis, a southpaw, uncorked a left uppercut that spun his foe’s head half way round and knocked him out cold.
Davis, headlining his first pay-per-view show, wanted to do something spectacular. Mission accomplished.
“I’m a pay-per-view star,” he said afterward. “… I’m No. 1. It showed tonight. And I’m going to continue to show the boxing world, people all over the world, I’m No. 1.”
Santa Cruz, a four-time titleholder known for his volume punching, said going into the fight that had to fight carefully in light of Davis’ punching power.
And that’s how he came out at the opening bell, patiently looking for openings to unload quick flurries while keeping his guard up. Davis, a counterpuncher, also didn’t rush anything. He reacted to Santa Cruz’s punches by throwing hard, accurate counters.
Santa Cruz, the naturally smaller man, took everything Davis landed – including some hellacious shots – and, perhaps giving in to instinct, engaged Davis more and more as the fight progressed.
The fighters stood toe-to-toe early in Round 4, each winging and landed punishing shots in what temporarily became a wild firefight. Santa Cruz got in his licks but Davis’ punches were heavier, which portended the final outcome.
Santa Cruz was at his most aggressive in the final round, going after Davis’ body in what appeared to be a strong round for him. It looked as if he was going to be in good position for the second half of the fight, when he and his team believed Davis would begin to fade.
Unfortunately for him, he didn’t see Round 7. Santa Cruz never saw the punch, which knocked him onto his back and directly under the ropes. Referee Rafael Ramos had no reason to count. Santa Cruz was finished. Official time: 2:40 of Round 6.
Santa Cruz lay there motionless for a few minutes before he was lifted to his stool. He walked out of the ring.
“I adapted to what he was bringing,” Davis said. “I know he was a taller fighter and he was crunching up (leaning over) and moving forward. So once he moved forward … I landed the shot. …
“He was just right there for it. He’s a guy who punches but he doesn’t try to get out of the way after he punches. … There was no place for him to go. The ropes were right there.”
Davis, who also defended his secondary 135-pound belt, was asked afterward whether he would campaign at 130 or 135. He said he’d be open to either, depending on available opportunities.
Of course, the bigger names and bigger fights are at 135. For example, Teofimo Lopez gave a sensational performance in his victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko to become undisputed lightweight champ on Oct. 17.
A fight between Davis and Ryan Garcia, another young knockout artist, would send boxing fans into a tizzy. And Devin Haney would make for another compelling matchup at 135.
Davis doesn’t seem to care who he faces.
“The best opportunity out there I’m willing to fight,” he said. “I’m not ducking or dodging nobody. … I don’t need to call nobody out right now. I’m the top dog, everybody knows that. So let’s line ’em up. I’ll knock ’em down one by one.”
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