Tag: Davis vs Barrios

Good, bad, worse: Gervonta Davis overcomes adversity, Vasiliy Lomachenko is back

Good, bad, worse: Gervonta Davis overcomes adversity, Vasiliy Lomachenko is back.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL741-fh_J0

Gervonta Davis didn’t just deliver another memorable knockout on Saturday in Atlanta. He overcame adversity to do it, which made it more compelling.

We all knew that Davis made a bold move by jumping up two weight classes to fight capable Mario Barrios at State Farm Arena. In spite of that, not many expected Barrios to push Davis as hard as he did before the fight ended in Round 11.

Barrios used his height, reach, ability and determination to frustrate Davis much of the fight. Even after Barrios went down twice in Round 8, he had a strong Round 9 and the fight still seemed to be in the balance.

Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) was in a tough spot, which is why Floyd Mayweather, his promoter, gave him a pep talk between rounds late in the fight.

In the end, Davis met the challenge with his not-so-secret weapon, his punching power. The southpaw essentially ended the fight with a left uppercut to the body that put Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) down in Round 11. Barrios, badly hurt, got up, took one more shot against the ropes and the fight was stopped.

Dramatic fight, dramatic ending.

Davis showed us what he typically does, his punch accuracy, his defensive skills and his power, among other things. He added mental toughness to the mix out of necessity, which makes him a more complete fighter than we might’ve realized.

That might not be good news for those between 130 and 140 pounds.

“He has the potential to be one of the greatest ever,” Mayweather said. “When I first met ‘Tank,’ when he was 14 or 15 years old, I told him I’d make him a world champion and that you’ll be one of the best someday. I’m proud of him.”

***

BAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee06FLKlqbQ

The only thing “bad” about Vasiliy Lomachenko these days is that many seemed to have written him off after his unanimous-decision loss to Teofimo Lopez in October.

Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) was strangely inactive in the first half of that fight but rallied to make it competitive, although he lost by a wide margin. Afterward, he said he entered the fight with a right-shoulder injury that affected his performance.

I don’t usually buy into excuses but I don’t believe he was lying, particularly in light of the fact he had surgery shortly afterward.

Still, the No. 1 fighter in the world according to some outlets – including Boxing Junkie – was said to be in decline at only 32 years old (now 33). Suddenly, people were talking about lightweights Lopez, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, not Lomachenko.

Well, Lomachenko demonstrated against Masayoshi Nakatani on Saturday that he’s far from finished. He outclassed his Japanese opponent, broke him down and stopped him in the ninth round.

OK, Nakatani (19-2, 13 KOs) isn’t a top-tier fighter, which limits our ability to read into Lomachenko’s performance. That said, he’s a big, strong lightweight who had knocked out Felix Verdejo in his previous fight. And he went the distance with Lopez last year.

Nakatani is a good fighter. And Lomachenko, looking much like the boxing wizard he has always been, made him look foolish for eight-plus rounds.

I hope he gets a rematch with Lopez. Who would win? I would pick Lomachenko.

***

WORSE

Erickson Lubin stopped Jeison Rosario in six rounds. Amanda Westcott / Showtime

Jeison Rosario is a living example of how success in boxing can be fleeting.

The hard-punching Dominican burst onto the world scene by stopping Julian Williams in five rounds to win two junior middleweight titles in January of last year. He was an overnight sensation, one that figured to evolve into a true star.

Then everything went south.

Jermell Charlo knocked him out in eight rounds to unify three titles last September. And on the Davis-Barrios card Saturday Erickson Lubin took him out in six as a result of body blows, giving Rosario back-to-back losses and an uncertain future.

Rosario (20-3-1, 14 KOs) probably made a mistake by jumping into a difficult fight immediately after the devastating setback against Charlo. Lubin, a first-round knockout victim of Charlo in 2017, got it right. He eased back into elite competition, a strategy that culminated in his victory on Saturday.

The damage is done, though. Is Rosario, only 26, a one-hit wonder who will fade into history? Or will he somehow overcome his back-to-back disasters and become an elite fighter again?

The former seems more likely. Rosario is a good boxer who can hurt anyone, as he demonstrated against Lubin (24-1, 17 KOs). However, he seems to have a glaring weakness: the ability to take body shots. Charlo also stopped him with a punch to the gut.

Bottom line: Rosario and his team have a lot of work to do if he hopes to become a major player again.

Lubin? Kudos to him. He demonstrated what he was made of by overcoming his setback against Charlo to reach the pinnacle of his division. He would seem to be first in line to challenge the winner of the Charlo-Brian Castano on July 17.

I wonder about his chin, particularly after he seemed to be rocked by a jab on Saturday, but his overall game is formidable. He could beat anyone at his best.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

Barrios deserves respect after his performance on Saturday. All three judges somehow had Davis well ahead on the scorecards after 10 rounds – 97-91 (seven rounds to three), 96-92 and 96-92 – but I had it 94-94 and Davis admitted afterward that he thought he was losing late in the fight. In fact, Barrios, a significant underdog in spite of whatever size advantage he might’ve had, fought one the sports’ most-gifted stars on roughly even terms. And when things got dicey for him beginning in Round 8, when he went down twice, he demonstrated the kind of courage and resilience fans love. He certainly didn’t want to quit in the end. “Of course I wanted to continue. I got up for a reason,” Barrios said. “I told everybody that I was going to show the Azteca Warrior that I am.” I think Barrios’ stock improved in a losing cause. … The Davis-Barrios fight was unusual in one sense: It was exciting even though the principals combined to throw only 690 punches, 57.5 per round. Davis’ early frustration, the knockdowns, Barrios’ resilience and the final stoppage added up to one of the better fights of the year. …

News item: Paradigm Sports Management is suing Manny Pacquiao for alleged breach of contract, which could threaten Pacquiao’s scheduled fight against Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21. The company, which handles Conor McGregor, insists it had a contractual right to negotiate Pacquiao’s next two fights. Paradigm believed that Pacquiao and Mikey Garcia were near a deal to fight one another when Pacquiao, evidently working with other advisors, decided to fight Spence instead. Paradigm is seeking millions of dollars in damages and an injunction to stop the Pacquiao-Spence fight from taking place. My guess is that Pacquiao might have to pay off Paradigm but who knows? We were surprised when Tyson Fury was forced to fight Deontay Wilder a third time. … Flyweight titleholder Julio Cesar Martinez said after his knockout victory over Joel Cordova on Saturday at he wants to unify titles at 112 pounds before moving up to 115, where the likes of Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada reside. That probably makes sense because he probably wouldn’t get a shot at the junior bantamweight stars until next year anyway. Why not try to unify at 112 and continue to build your brand? … I was surprised to hear Showtime describe Crimea as Crimea, Russia on its telecast. The majority of the international community considers Crimea a Russian-occupied region of Ukraine.

Good, bad, worse: Gervonta Davis overcomes adversity, Vasiliy Lomachenko is back

Good, bad, worse: Gervonta Davis overcomes adversity, Vasiliy Lomachenko is back.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VL741-fh_J0

Gervonta Davis didn’t just deliver another memorable knockout on Saturday in Atlanta. He overcame adversity to do it, which made it more compelling.

We all knew that Davis made a bold move by jumping up two weight classes to fight capable Mario Barrios at State Farm Arena. In spite of that, not many expected Barrios to push Davis as hard as he did before the fight ended in Round 11.

Barrios used his height, reach, ability and determination to frustrate Davis much of the fight. Even after Barrios went down twice in Round 8, he had a strong Round 9 and the fight still seemed to be in the balance.

Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) was in a tough spot, which is why Floyd Mayweather, his promoter, gave him a pep talk between rounds late in the fight.

In the end, Davis met the challenge with his not-so-secret weapon, his punching power. The southpaw essentially ended the fight with a left uppercut to the body that put Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) down in Round 11. Barrios, badly hurt, got up, took one more shot against the ropes and the fight was stopped.

Dramatic fight, dramatic ending.

Davis showed us what he typically does, his punch accuracy, his defensive skills and his power, among other things. He added mental toughness to the mix out of necessity, which makes him a more complete fighter than we might’ve realized.

That might not be good news for those between 130 and 140 pounds.

“He has the potential to be one of the greatest ever,” Mayweather said. “When I first met ‘Tank,’ when he was 14 or 15 years old, I told him I’d make him a world champion and that you’ll be one of the best someday. I’m proud of him.”

***

BAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee06FLKlqbQ

The only thing “bad” about Vasiliy Lomachenko these days is that many seemed to have written him off after his unanimous-decision loss to Teofimo Lopez in October.

Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) was strangely inactive in the first half of that fight but rallied to make it competitive, although he lost by a wide margin. Afterward, he said he entered the fight with a right-shoulder injury that affected his performance.

I don’t usually buy into excuses but I don’t believe he was lying, particularly in light of the fact he had surgery shortly afterward.

Still, the No. 1 fighter in the world according to some outlets – including Boxing Junkie – was said to be in decline at only 32 years old (now 33). Suddenly, people were talking about lightweights Lopez, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, not Lomachenko.

Well, Lomachenko demonstrated against Masayoshi Nakatani on Saturday that he’s far from finished. He outclassed his Japanese opponent, broke him down and stopped him in the ninth round.

OK, Nakatani (19-2, 13 KOs) isn’t a top-tier fighter, which limits our ability to read into Lomachenko’s performance. That said, he’s a big, strong lightweight who had knocked out Felix Verdejo in his previous fight. And he went the distance with Lopez last year.

Nakatani is a good fighter. And Lomachenko, looking much like the boxing wizard he has always been, made him look foolish for eight-plus rounds.

I hope he gets a rematch with Lopez. Who would win? I would pick Lomachenko.

***

WORSE

Erickson Lubin stopped Jeison Rosario in six rounds. Amanda Westcott / Showtime

Jeison Rosario is a living example of how success in boxing can be fleeting.

The hard-punching Dominican burst onto the world scene by stopping Julian Williams in five rounds to win two junior middleweight titles in January of last year. He was an overnight sensation, one that figured to evolve into a true star.

Then everything went south.

Jermell Charlo knocked him out in eight rounds to unify three titles last September. And on the Davis-Barrios card Saturday Erickson Lubin took him out in six as a result of body blows, giving Rosario back-to-back losses and an uncertain future.

Rosario (20-3-1, 14 KOs) probably made a mistake by jumping into a difficult fight immediately after the devastating setback against Charlo. Lubin, a first-round knockout victim of Charlo in 2017, got it right. He eased back into elite competition, a strategy that culminated in his victory on Saturday.

The damage is done, though. Is Rosario, only 26, a one-hit wonder who will fade into history? Or will he somehow overcome his back-to-back disasters and become an elite fighter again?

The former seems more likely. Rosario is a good boxer who can hurt anyone, as he demonstrated against Lubin (24-1, 17 KOs). However, he seems to have a glaring weakness: the ability to take body shots. Charlo also stopped him with a punch to the gut.

Bottom line: Rosario and his team have a lot of work to do if he hopes to become a major player again.

Lubin? Kudos to him. He demonstrated what he was made of by overcoming his setback against Charlo to reach the pinnacle of his division. He would seem to be first in line to challenge the winner of the Charlo-Brian Castano on July 17.

I wonder about his chin, particularly after he seemed to be rocked by a jab on Saturday, but his overall game is formidable. He could beat anyone at his best.

***

RABBIT PUNCHES

Barrios deserves respect after his performance on Saturday. All three judges somehow had Davis well ahead on the scorecards after 10 rounds – 97-91 (seven rounds to three), 96-92 and 96-92 – but I had it 94-94 and Davis admitted afterward that he thought he was losing late in the fight. In fact, Barrios, a significant underdog in spite of whatever size advantage he might’ve had, fought one the sports’ most-gifted stars on roughly even terms. And when things got dicey for him beginning in Round 8, when he went down twice, he demonstrated the kind of courage and resilience fans love. He certainly didn’t want to quit in the end. “Of course I wanted to continue. I got up for a reason,” Barrios said. “I told everybody that I was going to show the Azteca Warrior that I am.” I think Barrios’ stock improved in a losing cause. … The Davis-Barrios fight was unusual in one sense: It was exciting even though the principals combined to throw only 690 punches, 57.5 per round. Davis’ early frustration, the knockdowns, Barrios’ resilience and the final stoppage added up to one of the better fights of the year. …

News item: Paradigm Sports Management is suing Manny Pacquiao for alleged breach of contract, which could threaten Pacquiao’s scheduled fight against Errol Spence Jr. on Aug. 21. The company, which handles Conor McGregor, insists it had a contractual right to negotiate Pacquiao’s next two fights. Paradigm believed that Pacquiao and Mikey Garcia were near a deal to fight one another when Pacquiao, evidently working with other advisors, decided to fight Spence instead. Paradigm is seeking millions of dollars in damages and an injunction to stop the Pacquiao-Spence fight from taking place. My guess is that Pacquiao might have to pay off Paradigm but who knows? We were surprised when Tyson Fury was forced to fight Deontay Wilder a third time. … Flyweight titleholder Julio Cesar Martinez said after his knockout victory over Joel Cordova on Saturday at he wants to unify titles at 112 pounds before moving up to 115, where the likes of Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada reside. That probably makes sense because he probably wouldn’t get a shot at the junior bantamweight stars until next year anyway. Why not try to unify at 112 and continue to build your brand? … I was surprised to hear Showtime describe Crimea as Crimea, Russia on its telecast. The majority of the international community considers Crimea a Russian-occupied region of Ukraine.

Gervonta Davis knocks out Mario Barrios in 11th round

Gervonta Davis knocked out Mario Barrios in the 11th round Saturday in Atlanta.

Well, Gervonta Davis carried his power up to 140 pounds.

Mario Barrios gave Davis a tougher fight than many expected on Saturday night at a packed State Farm Arena in Atlanta but, in the end, it was Davis’ punching power that allowed him to win by an 11th-round knockout after moving up two divisions for the fight.

Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) controlled the first four rounds with his jab and enough power shots to win rounds as Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) tried to figure out how to get inside his opponent’s long reach.

“Tank” started to find success in Round 5, as he closed the distance and began to land eye-catching punches.

He was the aggressor from then on, although the next few rounds were competitive as Barrios continued to hold his own.

Then came a huge round for Davis. About a minute into Round 8, Davis landed a right hook to Barrios’ temple that sent him to the canvas. He got up but went down again moments later from a big left.

Barrios demonstrated his resilience by surviving Davis’ efforts to end the fight and actually winning Round 9. However, that was his last hurrah.

Davis hurt Barrios with several big shots toward the end of Round 10. And then he did what does, which was to score a brutal knockout. The big punch was a left uppercut to the body that sent Barrios to all fours in great pain.

He managed to get to his feet. However, moments later, a big left hand sent him into the ropes and referee Thomas Taylor ended it at that point to protect Barrios, who lost a secondary junior welterweight title.

The official time was 2:13 of Round 11.

All three judges had Davis winning by a large margin after 10 rounds, 97-91 (seven rounds to three), 97-91 and 96-92. Boxing Junkie had it even 94-94.

Of course, Davis, who can fight at 130, 135 or 140, has many options. Oscar Valdez, Jamel Herring and Shakur Stevenson reside at 130. Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia are the stars at 135. And, assuming Davis was comfortable at 140, he could target undisputed champ Josh Taylor.

And Davis just might be favored to beat all of the above.

[lawrence-related id=21463,21467]

Gervonta Davis knocks out Mario Barrios in 11th round

Gervonta Davis knocked out Mario Barrios in the 11th round Saturday in Atlanta.

Well, Gervonta Davis carried his power up to 140 pounds.

Mario Barrios gave Davis a tougher fight than many expected on Saturday night at a packed State Farm Arena in Atlanta but, in the end, it was Davis’ punching power that allowed him to win by an 11th-round knockout after moving up two divisions for the fight.

Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) controlled the first four rounds with his jab and enough power shots to win rounds as Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) tried to figure out how to get inside his opponent’s long reach.

“Tank” started to find success in Round 5, as he closed the distance and began to land eye-catching punches.

He was the aggressor from then on, although the next few rounds were competitive as Barrios continued to hold his own.

Then came a huge round for Davis. About a minute into Round 8, Davis landed a right hook to Barrios’ temple that sent him to the canvas. He got up but went down again moments later from a big left.

Barrios demonstrated his resilience by surviving Davis’ efforts to end the fight and actually winning Round 9. However, that was his last hurrah.

Davis hurt Barrios with several big shots toward the end of Round 10. And then he did what does, which was to score a brutal knockout. The big punch was a left uppercut to the body that sent Barrios to all fours in great pain.

He managed to get to his feet. However, moments later, a big left hand sent him into the ropes and referee Thomas Taylor ended it at that point to protect Barrios, who lost a secondary junior welterweight title.

The official time was 2:13 of Round 11.

All three judges had Davis winning by a large margin after 10 rounds, 97-91 (seven rounds to three), 97-91 and 96-92. Boxing Junkie had it even 94-94.

Of course, Davis, who can fight at 130, 135 or 140, has many options. Oscar Valdez, Jamel Herring and Shakur Stevenson reside at 130. Teofimo Lopez, Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia are the stars at 135. And, assuming Davis was comfortable at 140, he could target undisputed champ Josh Taylor.

And Davis just might be favored to beat all of the above.

[lawrence-related id=21463,21467]

Erickson Lubin stops Jeison Rosario as result of body shots in Round 6

Erickson Lubin stopped Jeison Rosario as result of body shots in Round 6 of their fight Saturday in Atlanta.

Erickson Lubin continues to roll.

The junior middleweight contender gave the most impressive performance of his career on the Gervonta Davis-Mario Barrios card Saturday in Atlanta, stopping former titleholder Jeison Rosario in six rounds.

The stoppage was the result of body blows midway through the final round, a left that landed somewhat below the belt and right that hurt Rosario badly.

The Dominican, in obvious pain, dropped to all fours but was able to get to his feet. Moments later, with Rosario’s back against the ropes, Lubin put Rosario down again with a straight left and he couldn’t continue.

The fight was stopped at 1:42 of Round 6.

Lubin (24-1, 17 KOs) controlled the early rounds with his right jab, consistently following with power punches to both the head and body as Rosario was searching for a way to cope.

Then, in Round 4, Lubin found himself in trouble. Rosario seemed to rock him with a left jab with about 20 seconds to go in the round. He survived and then got back to work in a competitive Round 5, in which he seemed to land the cleaner punches.

And he finished the show the following round, claiming his sixth victory since he was stopped in the first round by 154-pound titleholder Jermell Charlo in October 2017.

Lubin has beaten in succession Nathaniel Galimore, Terrell Gausha and Rosario, putting him in prime position to challenge the winner of the Charlo-Brian Castano title-unification bout, which is set for July 17.

Rosario (20-3-1, 14 KOs) burst onto the scene by stopping Julian Williams in five rounds to capture a junior middleweight bout. However, he lost it by eighth-round stoppage to Charlo in his subsequent fight.

The loss on Saturday was his second in a row, which will make his climb back to title contention difficult.

Erickson Lubin stops Jeison Rosario as result of body shots in Round 6

Erickson Lubin stopped Jeison Rosario as result of body shots in Round 6 of their fight Saturday in Atlanta.

Erickson Lubin continues to roll.

The junior middleweight contender gave the most impressive performance of his career on the Gervonta Davis-Mario Barrios card Saturday in Atlanta, stopping former titleholder Jeison Rosario in six rounds.

The stoppage was the result of body blows midway through the final round, a left that landed somewhat below the belt and right that hurt Rosario badly.

The Dominican, in obvious pain, dropped to all fours but was able to get to his feet. Moments later, with Rosario’s back against the ropes, Lubin put Rosario down again with a straight left and he couldn’t continue.

The fight was stopped at 1:42 of Round 6.

Lubin (24-1, 17 KOs) controlled the early rounds with his right jab, consistently following with power punches to both the head and body as Rosario was searching for a way to cope.

Then, in Round 4, Lubin found himself in trouble. Rosario seemed to rock him with a left jab with about 20 seconds to go in the round. He survived and then got back to work in a competitive Round 5, in which he seemed to land the cleaner punches.

And he finished the show the following round, claiming his sixth victory since he was stopped in the first round by 154-pound titleholder Jermell Charlo in October 2017.

Lubin has beaten in succession Nathaniel Galimore, Terrell Gausha and Rosario, putting him in prime position to challenge the winner of the Charlo-Brian Castano title-unification bout, which is set for July 17.

Rosario (20-3-1, 14 KOs) burst onto the scene by stopping Julian Williams in five rounds to capture a junior middleweight bout. However, he lost it by eighth-round stoppage to Charlo in his subsequent fight.

The loss on Saturday was his second in a row, which will make his climb back to title contention difficult.

Batyr Akhmedov outworks, stops Argenis Mendez after eight rounds

Batyr Akhmedov outworked and stopped Argenis Mendez after eight rounds on Saturday in Atlanta.

Batyr Akhmedov’s hard work paid off again.

The former Olympian from Uzbekistan outworked and ultimately stopped Argenis Mendez after eight rounds in a scheduled 12-round 140-pound bout on the Gervonta Davis-Mario Barrios card Saturday in Atlanta.

Mendez (25-7-3, 12 KOs) claimed in his corner after Round 8 that he couldn’t continue because of an injury to his right hand.

However, Akhmedov (9-1, 8 KOs) kept pressure on his Dominican opponent from the opening bell and landed consistently, particularly hard punches to the body.

Mendez had his moments, including a number of accurate left hooks to Akhmedov’s head and some body shots. He simply didn’t throw enough punches to give himself a chance to win.

All three judges had Akhmedov winning after eight rounds, 79-73, 79-73 and 77-75.

Akhmedov has now won twice since his disputed unanimous-decision loss to Barrios in September 2019. Mendez, a former junior lightweight titleholder, is now 0-2-2 in his last four fights and hasn’t had his hand raised since 2018.

Batyr Akhmedov outworks, stops Argenis Mendez after eight rounds

Batyr Akhmedov outworked and stopped Argenis Mendez after eight rounds on Saturday in Atlanta.

Batyr Akhmedov’s hard work paid off again.

The former Olympian from Uzbekistan outworked and ultimately stopped Argenis Mendez after eight rounds in a scheduled 12-round 140-pound bout on the Gervonta Davis-Mario Barrios card Saturday in Atlanta.

Mendez (25-7-3, 12 KOs) claimed in his corner after Round 8 that he couldn’t continue because of an injury to his right hand.

However, Akhmedov (9-1, 8 KOs) kept pressure on his Dominican opponent from the opening bell and landed consistently, particularly hard punches to the body.

Mendez had his moments, including a number of accurate left hooks to Akhmedov’s head and some body shots. He simply didn’t throw enough punches to give himself a chance to win.

All three judges had Akhmedov winning after eight rounds, 79-73, 79-73 and 77-75.

Akhmedov has now won twice since his disputed unanimous-decision loss to Barrios in September 2019. Mendez, a former junior lightweight titleholder, is now 0-2-2 in his last four fights and hasn’t had his hand raised since 2018.

Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios: 5 questions (and answers) going into showdown

Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios: 5 questions (and answers) going into the pay-per-view showdown on Saturday.

Gervonta Davis is moving up from 130 pounds to 140 to face unbeaten Mario Barrios in a pay-per-view fight Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

“Tank” is perceived as the better fighter but Barrios (26-0, 17 KOs) has a distinct size advantage, which some believe could be an equalizer.

And although Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) has been a huge puncher at lower weights, no one knows whether he’ll be able to carry his power to the higher division or take shots from a bigger, stronger man.

Bottom line: It’s a fascinating matchup, one that raises a number of questions. Here are five:

WILL DAVIS CARRY HIS POWER TO 140 POUNDS?

That’s the key question going into the fight. The answer? I think so. Davis will be fighting a legitimate 140-pounder for the first time, which could be a challenge for him. We’ve seen many fighters – some of them outstanding — plateau as they move up in weight. I’ll just tell you what I believe: Davis is a born puncher with a special delivery system, which he has demonstrated fight after fight. The uppercut that ended Leo Santa Cruz’s night in October might’ve stopped the average middleweight. Cynics might point out that it took him 12 rounds to stop 38-year-old Yuriorkis Gamboa at 135 pounds in 2019 and ask, “How is he supposed to hurt a prime Mario Barrios at 140? Well, I wouldn’t read too much into the fight against Gamboa, who was in survival mode from beginning to end. Davis can crack. And I’m pretty sure that won’t change at junior welterweight.

WILL DAVIS BE ABLE TO HANDLE BARRIOS’ POWER?

That’s a tougher question. I don’t remember ever seeing Davis hurt, which suggests to me that he has been durable at 135 and below. However, he’s now facing a bigger man now. And Barrios is no ordinary junior welterweight when it comes to power. He has stopped nine of his last 10 opponents, meaning he has actually knocked out foes at higher rate as he has stepped up his opposition. He can punch. The natural question here is: Will Barrios be able to land the kind of shots or shots that might buzz Davis? That could be the key to his success. If he’s able to land hard, damaging blows, that could throw Davis off his game and make this a closer fight than most people believe it will be.

WHO’S THE BETTER BOXER?

Davis. Barrios’ ability shouldn’t be underestimated. He had a long, productive amateur career that gave him a solid technical foundation. And he’s now working with renowned guru Virgil Hunter, who has put polish on an already-glossy product. Barrios is a very good boxer. His problem? Davis is a special boxer, the type that doesn’t come around often. He has natural gifts, speed, athleticism, that power. He also had a successful amateur career, reportedly finishing 205-15. And, under the expert guidance of trainer Calvin Ford, he has evolved into a formidable technician. That ability has allowed him to land the well-timed, precise punches that have stopped all but one of his opponents.

WHAT DOES A VICTORY DO FOR BOTH MEN?

If Davis wins, he will have defeated notable opponents at three different weight classes consecutively. Who does that? It’s way too early to compare him to the likes of Henry Armstrong, who held championships in three divisions simultaneously. At the same time, Davis’ accomplishment will have an old-school feel that will be appealing to many fans. This is a bold move for Davis even if you don’t see Barrios as a legitimate threat. A victory surely will add to his already-massive following. Barrios? Size advantage or no size advantage, he will instantaneously become a major player if he can pull this one off. That would mean fame, fortune and the thing about which all fighters dream: a shot at a legitimate world title.

WILL THE FIGHT BE COMPETITIVE?

Probably not. Davis is a level above Barrios pound-for-pound. He’s a better boxer with more experience in big fights. And although we don’t know whether he’ll bring his power up to 140, he has been one of the most-devastating punchers in the sport at lower weights. Again, Barrios is good; Davis is special. Barrios’ not-so-secret weapon could be his size advantage, which also includes height and reach. If he can exploit his advantages – and keep Davis honest with his punching power – he’ll have a chance. That’s a big “if,” though. I learned a long time ago that you should pick the more-talented guy to win unless he’s in an unusually difficult situation. This isn’t one of those. Davis will win by late knockout.

[lawrence-related id=21374,21362,20410]

Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios: 5 questions (and answers) going into showdown

Gervonta Davis vs. Mario Barrios: 5 questions (and answers) going into the pay-per-view showdown on Saturday.

Gervonta Davis is moving up from 130 pounds to 140 to face unbeaten Mario Barrios in a pay-per-view fight Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

“Tank” is perceived as the better fighter but Barrios (26-0, 17 KOs) has a distinct size advantage, which some believe could be an equalizer.

And although Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) has been a huge puncher at lower weights, no one knows whether he’ll be able to carry his power to the higher division or take shots from a bigger, stronger man.

Bottom line: It’s a fascinating matchup, one that raises a number of questions. Here are five:

WILL DAVIS CARRY HIS POWER TO 140 POUNDS?

That’s the key question going into the fight. The answer? I think so. Davis will be fighting a legitimate 140-pounder for the first time, which could be a challenge for him. We’ve seen many fighters – some of them outstanding — plateau as they move up in weight. I’ll just tell you what I believe: Davis is a born puncher with a special delivery system, which he has demonstrated fight after fight. The uppercut that ended Leo Santa Cruz’s night in October might’ve stopped the average middleweight. Cynics might point out that it took him 12 rounds to stop 38-year-old Yuriorkis Gamboa at 135 pounds in 2019 and ask, “How is he supposed to hurt a prime Mario Barrios at 140? Well, I wouldn’t read too much into the fight against Gamboa, who was in survival mode from beginning to end. Davis can crack. And I’m pretty sure that won’t change at junior welterweight.

WILL DAVIS BE ABLE TO HANDLE BARRIOS’ POWER?

That’s a tougher question. I don’t remember ever seeing Davis hurt, which suggests to me that he has been durable at 135 and below. However, he’s now facing a bigger man now. And Barrios is no ordinary junior welterweight when it comes to power. He has stopped nine of his last 10 opponents, meaning he has actually knocked out foes at higher rate as he has stepped up his opposition. He can punch. The natural question here is: Will Barrios be able to land the kind of shots or shots that might buzz Davis? That could be the key to his success. If he’s able to land hard, damaging blows, that could throw Davis off his game and make this a closer fight than most people believe it will be.

WHO’S THE BETTER BOXER?

Davis. Barrios’ ability shouldn’t be underestimated. He had a long, productive amateur career that gave him a solid technical foundation. And he’s now working with renowned guru Virgil Hunter, who has put polish on an already-glossy product. Barrios is a very good boxer. His problem? Davis is a special boxer, the type that doesn’t come around often. He has natural gifts, speed, athleticism, that power. He also had a successful amateur career, reportedly finishing 205-15. And, under the expert guidance of trainer Calvin Ford, he has evolved into a formidable technician. That ability has allowed him to land the well-timed, precise punches that have stopped all but one of his opponents.

WHAT DOES A VICTORY DO FOR BOTH MEN?

If Davis wins, he will have defeated notable opponents at three different weight classes consecutively. Who does that? It’s way too early to compare him to the likes of Henry Armstrong, who held championships in three divisions simultaneously. At the same time, Davis’ accomplishment will have an old-school feel that will be appealing to many fans. This is a bold move for Davis even if you don’t see Barrios as a legitimate threat. A victory surely will add to his already-massive following. Barrios? Size advantage or no size advantage, he will instantaneously become a major player if he can pull this one off. That would mean fame, fortune and the thing about which all fighters dream: a shot at a legitimate world title.

WILL THE FIGHT BE COMPETITIVE?

Probably not. Davis is a level above Barrios pound-for-pound. He’s a better boxer with more experience in big fights. And although we don’t know whether he’ll bring his power up to 140, he has been one of the most-devastating punchers in the sport at lower weights. Again, Barrios is good; Davis is special. Barrios’ not-so-secret weapon could be his size advantage, which also includes height and reach. If he can exploit his advantages – and keep Davis honest with his punching power – he’ll have a chance. That’s a big “if,” though. I learned a long time ago that you should pick the more-talented guy to win unless he’s in an unusually difficult situation. This isn’t one of those. Davis will win by late knockout.

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