Tag: Isaac Cruz

LOS ANGELES — Gervonta Davis was asked again at the post-fight news conference about a possible rematch with Isaac Cruz, who pushed Davis to his limits before losing a close decision Sunday night at Staples Center.

The first time he was asked he said, “Hell no.” The second time he seemed open to the idea … until he reversed course.

“If the fans want it …,” he said and then seemed to back off.

Cruz, speaking through a translator, said he’s baffled by Davis’ stance after the highly competitive bout, in which Cruz pressured Davis from beginning to end.

“I can’t explain it,” said Cruz, who thought he deserved to have his hand raised. “It’s crazy. How did I go from someone he didn’t know at 135 pounds to someone he wants to avoid at all costs for a rematch. It’s absolutely astounding.”

Then he and his promoter offered a reason that Davis might not be interesting in meeting the Mexican a second time.

Cruz was asked whether anything about Davis surprised him.

“That was our best achievement,” he responded. “The surprise was that I had never seen a Gervonta who was so passive, almost afraid, really. We were able to take him out of his comfort zone. So I’m proud we were able to do just that.”

Said Sean Gibbons, speaking for MP Promotions: “I think [Davis is] the smartest guy in the room. He realized who Isaac Cruz was. He tried to intimidate him on numerous occasions, tried to intimidate him at the weigh-in. And all Isaac Cruz did was fighter harder and almost run him out of the ring.”

He added, taking a shot at Davis’ defensive posture at times: “It should be Gervonta Rigondeaux but we’ll go with Davis for now.”

Cruz also said he believes he hurt Davis, saying, “Of course. You know how I know I hurt him? He was trying to grab me when he was hurt. It was evident.

And, finally, Cruz also dismissed the fact that Davis claims to have injured his hand in the sixth round.

“It seems like their excuses are plenty right now,” he said. “I fought with bruised knuckles also but I didn’t make any excuses. I fought the way I fought, he fought the way he fought.

“There shouldn’t be any excuses. The fight was the way it was.”

What’s next for Cruz?

Cruz said he’ll fight anyone. Gibbons said the goal is to get another title shot as soon as possible.

“Basically, he’s still ranked across the board in the Top 10,” he said. “So anybody that we can work our way back up to fighting for a world title. We’ll speak with Al Haymon and PBC and see what’s next.”

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LOS ANGELES – Gervonta Davis turned out to be human. And he was still good enough to have his hand raised.

Isaac Cruz gave “Tank” all he could handle, pressuring one of the sport’s biggest punchers relentlessly. However, Davis weathered the storm, got in his own licks, overcame an injured left hand and emerged with a unanimous-decision victory in the 12-round lightweight bout Saturday at Staples Center.

Davis (26-0, 24 KOs) had stopped his previous 16 opponents, creating an intimidating reputation in the process.

Thus, many among the 15,850 fans who packed Staples Center expected to see knockout No. 17 on Saturday night. The fact they didn’t see a stoppage probably was disappointing. But a great fight was a nice consolation.

Cruz (22-2-1, 15 KOs) came out winging punches in the first round, much as he did when he knocked out Diego Magdaleno in 53 seconds last year. Davis, as slick as he is powerful, survived but it was clear that Mexican known as “Pitbull” meant business.

Cruz fought with more restraint thereafter but maintained pressure on Davis until the final bell, landing more punches than we’re used to seeing Davis take.

Davis decided in the middle rounds that it would behoove him to box more than brawl, a strategy that worked for him. He scored from the outside, danced out of harm’s way or clinched when Cruz got close to control those rounds.

And he did so even though the southpaw said he injured his left hand in the sixth round.

However, the compact Cruz, who was difficult to hit cleanly, took everything that Davis landed and continued to come forward. And he finished with a flourish, creating some nervous moments for Davis fans as they awaited the decision.

The scores were 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113. Boxing Junkie also scored it 115-113 for Davis, giving Cruz the final three rounds.

Some cheered when the decision was announced, some booed. That’s how competitive the fight was.

“At the beginning of the fight, he came on strong,” Davis said. “I felt as the fight was going he was breaking down. But I hurt my hand, so I wasn’t able to get him out of there.”

Davis believes he injured his hand on the head of his shorter opponent.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I gotta get the hand checked out. It is what it is. That’s what comes with this sport. He’s a shorter fighter, so I was throwing down on the top of his head. I hit him with my knuckle and messed it up. I hurt my hand in the sixth round.

“No matter if the opponent is taller or shorter, I’ve got to get through it. He’s a warrior. Even though he didn’t win, a star was born tonight.”

Cruz raised his arms in the air after the final bell, apparently convinced he did enough to win the fight. He was disappointed at the outcome but handled it with class.

“I have nothing to say, the fans are speaking on who won this fight,” he said through a translator. “That’s my style. Pitbull is always going to be on the attack. I think we retained rhythm from the start to the end.

“If the fans want to see a rematch, we’ll do it.”

Davis isn’t interested in a rematch. He was asked about that possibility and responded with an unequivocal, “Hell no.”

Maybe that was a nod to the hell Cruz gave him. More likely the secondary 135-pound titleholder will now set his sights on undisputed champion George Kambosos, who is coming off his sensational victory over Teofimo Lopez.

“Whatever the best opportunity is for me, I’ll do it,” Davis said. “All of them guys are easy work. I’m the top dog.”

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LOS ANGELES – Gervonta Davis turned out to be human. And he was still good enough to have his hand raised.

Isaac Cruz gave “Tank” all he could handle, pressuring one of the sport’s biggest punchers relentlessly. However, Davis weathered the storm, got in his own licks, overcame an injured left hand and emerged with a unanimous-decision victory in the 12-round lightweight bout Saturday at Staples Center.

Davis (26-0, 24 KOs) had stopped his previous 16 opponents, creating an intimidating reputation in the process.

Thus, many among the 15,850 fans who packed Staples Center expected to see knockout No. 17 on Saturday night. The fact they didn’t see a stoppage probably was disappointing. But a great fight was a nice consolation.

Cruz (22-2-1, 15 KOs) came out winging punches in the first round, much as he did when he knocked out Diego Magdaleno in 53 seconds last year. Davis, as slick as he is powerful, survived but it was clear that Mexican known as “Pitbull” meant business.

Cruz fought with more restraint thereafter but maintained pressure on Davis until the final bell, landing more punches than we’re used to seeing Davis take.

Davis decided in the middle rounds that it would behoove him to box more than brawl, a strategy that worked for him. He scored from the outside, danced out of harm’s way or clinched when Cruz got close to control those rounds.

And he did so even though the southpaw said he injured his left hand in the sixth round.

However, the compact Cruz, who was difficult to hit cleanly, took everything that Davis landed and continued to come forward. And he finished with a flourish, creating some nervous moments for Davis fans as they awaited the decision.

The scores were 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113. Boxing Junkie also scored it 115-113 for Davis, giving Cruz the final three rounds.

Some cheered when the decision was announced, some booed. That’s how competitive the fight was.

“At the beginning of the fight, he came on strong,” Davis said. “I felt as the fight was going he was breaking down. But I hurt my hand, so I wasn’t able to get him out of there.”

Davis believes he injured his hand on the head of his shorter opponent.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I gotta get the hand checked out. It is what it is. That’s what comes with this sport. He’s a shorter fighter, so I was throwing down on the top of his head. I hit him with my knuckle and messed it up. I hurt my hand in the sixth round.

“No matter if the opponent is taller or shorter, I’ve got to get through it. He’s a warrior. Even though he didn’t win, a star was born tonight.”

Cruz raised his arms in the air after the final bell, apparently convinced he did enough to win the fight. He was disappointed at the outcome but handled it with class.

“I have nothing to say, the fans are speaking on who won this fight,” he said through a translator. “That’s my style. Pitbull is always going to be on the attack. I think we retained rhythm from the start to the end.

“If the fans want to see a rematch, we’ll do it.”

Davis isn’t interested in a rematch. He was asked about that possibility and responded with an unequivocal, “Hell no.”

Maybe that was a nod to the hell Cruz gave him. More likely the secondary 135-pound titleholder will now set his sights on undisputed champion George Kambosos, who is coming off his sensational victory over Teofimo Lopez.

“Whatever the best opportunity is for me, I’ll do it,” Davis said. “All of them guys are easy work. I’m the top dog.”

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Gervonta Davis is an exceptional all-around boxer, including speed and a skill set that rival anyone in boxing. That’s a significant part of what makes the lightweight contender one of the best in the business.

“Tank” has unbelievable boxing skills,” said his promoter, Floyd Mayweather, who knows a thing or two about the sweet science.

Let’s face it, though: The knockouts are what set him apart from the rest.

Davis has stopped 24 of his 25 opponents and the last 16 he has faced, making him arguably the pound-for-pound knockout king among active fighters. Boxing Junkie ranked him No. 2 behind heavyweight Deontay Wilder.

The only man to take him the distance? Someone named German Ivan Meraz, who lost to Davis by a six-round decision in 2014. What went wrong in that fight?

“I ate too much after the weigh-in,” he told Boxing Junkie at the final news conference before his fight with Isaac Cruz on Sunday in Los Angeles. “I drank a lot of soda, ate a bunch of stuff. That messed me up.

“Does it bother me that I couldn’t knock him out? Nah. I don’t think I’m going to knockout every opponent my whole career.”

Where does the power come from?

Davis said recently that his accuracy is one factor, meaning you get the most out of a punch when it lands precisely on the bull’s eye. However, he said on Thursday that he really doesn’t know why his shots do more damage than all but a few fighters.

He only knows that they do.

“When I catch them with a perfect shot, they either fall or they’re really tough. And they felt it for sure,” he said.

Davis’ most memorable stoppage came in October of last year, when he fought four-division titleholder Leo Santa Cruz. The fighters engaged in firefight for five-plus rounds but Davis, always thinking, was waiting for Santa Cruz to make a mistake.

Then it happened. In the sixth round, Santa Cruz fired three right hands. Davis stepped to the left of the third one, inched forward and uncorked a left uppercut that instantaneously rendered Santa Cruz unconscious and brought the crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio to its feet.

If he wasn’t known as one of the great punchers of his era, he certainly was after that.

“It felt damn great,” he said of the stoppage. “I shook up the world. I get excited [when I have someone in my sights]. It’s like giving a kid candy. You can see all your hard work paying off as it’s happening.

“And I have the punching power to stop anyone I’m facing. It’s exciting.”

Davis was asked multiple times at the news conference whether fans can expect to see knockout No. 25 on Sunday and he wouldn’t bite.

To make such a prediction, he reasons, would be tantamount to taking Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs) lightly. And taking an opponent lightly is a recipe for disaster, as we’ve seen many times over the years.

Davis just smiles and serves up a diplomatic response. “You gotta wait and see,” he said.

At the same time, he did issue a warning to Cruz. The Mexican is a brawler, meaning he’s willing to take punches in order to deliver them. Isn’t that the perfect style for a fighter as powerful as Davis?

“If he walks into my punches,” said Davis, smiling one more time, “hopefully he can take what I dish out.”

Not likely.

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Gervonta Davis is an exceptional all-around boxer, including speed and a skill set that rival anyone in boxing. That’s a significant part of what makes the lightweight contender one of the best in the business.

“Tank” has unbelievable boxing skills,” said his promoter, Floyd Mayweather, who knows a thing or two about the sweet science.

Let’s face it, though: The knockouts are what set him apart from the rest.

Davis has stopped 24 of his 25 opponents and the last 16 he has faced, making him arguably the pound-for-pound knockout king among active fighters. Boxing Junkie ranked him No. 2 behind heavyweight Deontay Wilder.

The only man to take him the distance? Someone named German Ivan Meraz, who lost to Davis by a six-round decision in 2014. What went wrong in that fight?

“I ate too much after the weigh-in,” he told Boxing Junkie at the final news conference before his fight with Isaac Cruz on Sunday in Los Angeles. “I drank a lot of soda, ate a bunch of stuff. That messed me up.

“Does it bother me that I couldn’t knock him out? Nah. I don’t think I’m going to knockout every opponent my whole career.”

Where does the power come from?

Davis said recently that his accuracy is one factor, meaning you get the most out of a punch when it lands precisely on the bull’s eye. However, he said on Thursday that he really doesn’t know why his shots do more damage than all but a few fighters.

He only knows that they do.

“When I catch them with a perfect shot, they either fall or they’re really tough. And they felt it for sure,” he said.

Davis’ most memorable stoppage came in October of last year, when he fought four-division titleholder Leo Santa Cruz. The fighters engaged in firefight for five-plus rounds but Davis, always thinking, was waiting for Santa Cruz to make a mistake.

Then it happened. In the sixth round, Santa Cruz fired three right hands. Davis stepped to the left of the third one, inched forward and uncorked a left uppercut that instantaneously rendered Santa Cruz unconscious and brought the crowd at the Alamodome in San Antonio to its feet.

If he wasn’t known as one of the great punchers of his era, he certainly was after that.

“It felt damn great,” he said of the stoppage. “I shook up the world. I get excited [when I have someone in my sights]. It’s like giving a kid candy. You can see all your hard work paying off as it’s happening.

“And I have the punching power to stop anyone I’m facing. It’s exciting.”

Davis was asked multiple times at the news conference whether fans can expect to see knockout No. 25 on Sunday and he wouldn’t bite.

To make such a prediction, he reasons, would be tantamount to taking Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs) lightly. And taking an opponent lightly is a recipe for disaster, as we’ve seen many times over the years.

Davis just smiles and serves up a diplomatic response. “You gotta wait and see,” he said.

At the same time, he did issue a warning to Cruz. The Mexican is a brawler, meaning he’s willing to take punches in order to deliver them. Isn’t that the perfect style for a fighter as powerful as Davis?

“If he walks into my punches,” said Davis, smiling one more time, “hopefully he can take what I dish out.”

Not likely.

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LIGHTWEIGHT CONTENDER gervonta davis will face isaac cruz SUNDAY NIGHT on pay-per-view. 

Gervonta Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) vs. Isaac Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs)

• Date: Sunday, Nov. 5
• Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles
• TV/Stream: Showtime Pay-Per-View
• Division: Lightweight
• At stake: No major titles
• Pound-for-pound ranking: Davis No. 14
• Odds: Davis 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
• Also on the card: Sebastian Fundora vs. Sergio Garcia, junior middleweights; Sergiy Derevyanchenko vs. Carlos Adames, middleweights; Eduardo Ramirez vs. Miguel Marriaga, featherweights
• Prediction: Davis KO 6
• Background: Davis was supposed to have fought Rolando Romero but Romero was removed from the card almost a month ago after he was accused of sexual assault. Cruz, the Mexican slugger, agreed to replace Romero. Davis, a huge puncher and fast-rising star, has knocked out his last 14 opponents in three different weight classes. That includes an 11^th-round stoppage of Mario Barrios in what had been a competitive fight at 140 pounds this past June. The matchup with Cruz is Davis’s first lightweight bout since he knocked out Yuriorkis Gamboa in 12 rounds in December 2019 even though it seems to be his natural weight. He holds the WBA’s secondary 135-pound title. Cruz, an aggressive fighter from Mexico, made a splash by taking out veteran Diego Magdeleno in the first round in October of last year. He was less dominating in subsequent fights against Jose Matias Romero and Francisco Vargas, which he won by unanimous decisions. The matchup should be entertaining as both men like to mix it up.