Ryan Garcia on upcoming showdown: “I am going to knock Tank (Davis) out.”
Let the trash talk begin.
Ryan Garcia wasted no time predicting what will happen when he meets rival Gervonta Davis in the spring in Las Vegas, assuming both fighters win interim fights and Davis overcomes legal issues.
Garcia is excited to be part of the event. And he couldn’t have more confidence.
“This is the fight I want and this is the fight boxing needs,” he said. “The hype, the storylines, the two athletes defining their sport inside the ring and out. I am going to knock Tank out and take my place as the face of our incredible sport, and I’m bringing a new generation of boxing fans with me.
“I appreciate Tank volunteering to get beat so that I can get to work.”
Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) and Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) intend to meet in a non-title bout at a catch weight of 136 pounds, reportedly in April, if Davis defeats 130-pound titleholder Hector Garcia on Jan. 7 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. and Garcia wins a fight that has yet to be announced.
Garcia (16-0, 10 KOs) stunned the boxing world by easily outpointing hot prospect Chris Colbert in February and following that by taking Roger Gutierrez’s WBA belt by a one-sided decision in August.
However, moving up in weight to face a fighter of Davis’ ability will be a daunting challenge for the 31-year-old Dominican.
Davis also is scheduled to be tried on Dec. 12 for an alleged hit-and-run incident in November 2020.
The 28-year-old from Baltimore is a former two-time 130-pound titleholder who also won secondary titles at 135 and 140, going 5-0 (5 KOs) in championship fights. He gave up all of his belts.
Garcia, 24, took a break from boxing last year to deal with his mental health but returned to defeat Emmanuel Tagoe (UD) and formidable Javier Fortuna (KO 6) in April and July in 140-pound bouts, respectively.
Oscar De La Hoya: Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia are taking the first steps toward a clash late this year.
Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia are talking.
That’s the word from Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia’s promoter, who told Fight Hub TV that the popular fighters have begun negotiations for what would be a massive showdown late this year.
“Everybody is eager about that fight,” De La Hoya said. “That is the only fight Ryan wants, that’s the only fight that Tank wants. Look, we’re talking, we’re talking. So, yeah, it’s a great start.
“To get to talk to the other side is a great start.”
Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) and Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) are two of the biggest stars in the sport because of their elite ability and large followings, which makes a pay-per-view matchup between the two attractive.
However, there are significant obstacles to overcome, starting with their affiliations.
Davis is managed by Premier Boxing Champions, which partners with Showtime. Golden Boy Promotions, De La Hoya’s company, has a deal with DAZN.
And, of course, both television/streaming outlets would want a piece of what would be a lucrative pie.
The fact there evidently is interest on both sides raises hope that the fight could actually happen. De La Hoya certainly sounds optimistic.
“We want the fight,” De La Hoya continued. “That’s the bottom line. So as negotiations continue, maybe we’ll release something. But in the meantime, we’re keeping everything hushed because we want to surprise everybody with this super fight that is happening later on this year.”
Oscar De La Hoya: Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia are taking the first steps toward a clash late this year.
Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia are talking.
That’s the word from Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia’s promoter, who told Fight Hub TV that the popular fighters have begun negotiations for what would be a massive showdown late this year.
“Everybody is eager about that fight,” De La Hoya said. “That is the only fight Ryan wants, that’s the only fight that Tank wants. Look, we’re talking, we’re talking. So, yeah, it’s a great start.
“To get to talk to the other side is a great start.”
Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) and Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) are two of the biggest stars in the sport because of their elite ability and large followings, which makes a pay-per-view matchup between the two attractive.
However, there are significant obstacles to overcome, starting with their affiliations.
Davis is managed by Premier Boxing Champions, which partners with Showtime. Golden Boy Promotions, De La Hoya’s company, has a deal with DAZN.
And, of course, both television/streaming outlets would want a piece of what would be a lucrative pie.
The fact there evidently is interest on both sides raises hope that the fight could actually happen. De La Hoya certainly sounds optimistic.
“We want the fight,” De La Hoya continued. “That’s the bottom line. So as negotiations continue, maybe we’ll release something. But in the meantime, we’re keeping everything hushed because we want to surprise everybody with this super fight that is happening later on this year.”
Good, bad, worse: Could we actually see Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis?
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Ryan Garcia knocked out Javier Fortuna, not one of the titleholders or top contenders at or near his weight. A one-sided victory was predictable on Saturday in L.A. Thus, we can’t read too much into the sixth-round stoppage.
I’m comfortable in saying this, though: He looked like a star on national television, which is important for a fighter who sees himself as one of the most significant figures in the sport.
The gifted Garcia quickly overwhelmed his veteran opponent with his unusual speed, power and all-around ability, he put the Dominican down three times and he finally delivered a brutal stoppage in the sixth round.
The 23-year-old from the Southern California desert looked in that fight as if he could compete with anyone, including arch rival Gervonta Davis.
That’s exactly the kind of statement he hoped to make after a less-than-scintillating unanimous-decision victory over Emmanuel Tagoe in his previous fight, in April, his first since a 15-month layoff to deal with his mental health and injuries.
Garcia said to his rivals with his performance, “I’m a dominating fighter, not just a social media personality.”
The pay off is that he’s where he was after his sensational seventh-round knockout of Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell in January of last year, near the pinnacle of the sport and poised to take over at only 23 years old.
I can’t wait to see how “King Ry’s” career plays out. And I know I have a lot of company.
BAD
Making a showdown between Garcia and Gervonta Davis will be an uphill battle.
Garcia is handled by Golden Boy Promotions, which is aligned with DAZN and fiercely loyal to the streaming service. Davis is managed by Premier Boxing Champions, which is affiliated with Showtime.
Davis is more accomplished than Garcia and a almost certainly a bigger draw, meaning he and his partners would have more leverage in negotiations. If there’s an “A” said in this matchup, it’s Davis.
And President of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza has indicated that he has no interest in doing business with DAZN, which will demand a piece of the pie if Garcia and Davis end up sharing a ring.
“Look, I don’t think that we need two platforms in this. I don’t,” Espinoza said.
Garcia could be the key to reaching an agreement. Golden Boy is contractually bound to DAZN, Garcia evidently isn’t. That means Garcia can order Golden Boy to stand down and allow Showtime to showcase the fight.
Then there’s weight. Garcia is now a 140-pounder, he says; Davis’ last two fights were at lightweight and he seems comfortable there.
However, this shouldn’t be a significant obstacle. One, Davis fought once at 140, stopping Mario Barrios in 11 rounds in June of last year. And, two, they could also agree to fight at 138, give or take a pound.
Of course, there would be other points of contention, money being the most obvious one. The purses are key in any negotiations, though. Garcia and Davis should be able to get past that unless they make unreasonable demands, although many fighters have inflated views of their own value.
We can only hope the fighters and their handlers put ego and greed aside and focus on what the matchup would mean to the fighters and the sport. Then they might find common ground.
WORSE
Teofimo Lopez has a look of confidence as he has his hands wrapped in his dressing room.
Garcia vs. Davis is the fight fans want to see.
It simply doesn’t get better than matching two gifted, immensely powerful fighters who happen to be in or approaching their primes. The fact they have massive followings only adds to the excitement of the potential showdown.
If it doesn’t happen – and, again, the odds might be against it – loyal fans would be frustrated once again.
It wouldn’t be the end of the world, however. Garcia said that if he and Davis don’t reach an agreement, he’d like to face former undisputed 135-pound champion Teofimo Lopez in what would be a compelling matchup if Lopez beats Pedro Campa on Aug. 13.
Lopez also fights for a rival promoter, Top Rank, which has a deal with ESPN. However, Golden Boy and Top Rank might be able to work together more amicably than Golden Boy and PBC.
And there are several other good options for Garcia at 140, which is talent heavy at the top. Unified titleholder Josh Taylor, Jose Ramirez, Regis Prograis and Jose Zepeda are all attractive opponents for Garcia.
And, of course, Garcia is an attractive opponent for them. He doesn’t hold a title but he has that large fan base and a big personality, which would help generate big profits for everyone involved.
The bottom line for Garcia: He has a lot of good options.
Good, bad, worse: Could we actually see Ryan Garcia vs. Gervonta Davis?
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Ryan Garcia knocked out Javier Fortuna, not one of the titleholders or top contenders at or near his weight. A one-sided victory was predictable on Saturday in L.A. Thus, we can’t read too much into the sixth-round stoppage.
I’m comfortable in saying this, though: He looked like a star on national television, which is important for a fighter who sees himself as one of the most significant figures in the sport.
The gifted Garcia quickly overwhelmed his veteran opponent with his unusual speed, power and all-around ability, he put the Dominican down three times and he finally delivered a brutal stoppage in the sixth round.
The 23-year-old from the Southern California desert looked in that fight as if he could compete with anyone, including arch rival Gervonta Davis.
That’s exactly the kind of statement he hoped to make after a less-than-scintillating unanimous-decision victory over Emmanuel Tagoe in his previous fight, in April, his first since a 15-month layoff to deal with his mental health and injuries.
Garcia said to his rivals with his performance, “I’m a dominating fighter, not just a social media personality.”
The pay off is that he’s where he was after his sensational seventh-round knockout of Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell in January of last year, near the pinnacle of the sport and poised to take over at only 23 years old.
I can’t wait to see how “King Ry’s” career plays out. And I know I have a lot of company.
BAD
Making a showdown between Garcia and Gervonta Davis will be an uphill battle.
Garcia is handled by Golden Boy Promotions, which is aligned with DAZN and fiercely loyal to the streaming service. Davis is managed by Premier Boxing Champions, which is affiliated with Showtime.
Davis is more accomplished than Garcia and a almost certainly a bigger draw, meaning he and his partners would have more leverage in negotiations. If there’s an “A” said in this matchup, it’s Davis.
And President of Showtime Sports Stephen Espinoza has indicated that he has no interest in doing business with DAZN, which will demand a piece of the pie if Garcia and Davis end up sharing a ring.
“Look, I don’t think that we need two platforms in this. I don’t,” Espinoza said.
Garcia could be the key to reaching an agreement. Golden Boy is contractually bound to DAZN, Garcia evidently isn’t. That means Garcia can order Golden Boy to stand down and allow Showtime to showcase the fight.
Then there’s weight. Garcia is now a 140-pounder, he says; Davis’ last two fights were at lightweight and he seems comfortable there.
However, this shouldn’t be a significant obstacle. One, Davis fought once at 140, stopping Mario Barrios in 11 rounds in June of last year. And, two, they could also agree to fight at 138, give or take a pound.
Of course, there would be other points of contention, money being the most obvious one. The purses are key in any negotiations, though. Garcia and Davis should be able to get past that unless they make unreasonable demands, although many fighters have inflated views of their own value.
We can only hope the fighters and their handlers put ego and greed aside and focus on what the matchup would mean to the fighters and the sport. Then they might find common ground.
WORSE
Teofimo Lopez has a look of confidence as he has his hands wrapped in his dressing room.
Garcia vs. Davis is the fight fans want to see.
It simply doesn’t get better than matching two gifted, immensely powerful fighters who happen to be in or approaching their primes. The fact they have massive followings only adds to the excitement of the potential showdown.
If it doesn’t happen – and, again, the odds might be against it – loyal fans would be frustrated once again.
It wouldn’t be the end of the world, however. Garcia said that if he and Davis don’t reach an agreement, he’d like to face former undisputed 135-pound champion Teofimo Lopez in what would be a compelling matchup if Lopez beats Pedro Campa on Aug. 13.
Lopez also fights for a rival promoter, Top Rank, which has a deal with ESPN. However, Golden Boy and Top Rank might be able to work together more amicably than Golden Boy and PBC.
And there are several other good options for Garcia at 140, which is talent heavy at the top. Unified titleholder Josh Taylor, Jose Ramirez, Regis Prograis and Jose Zepeda are all attractive opponents for Garcia.
And, of course, Garcia is an attractive opponent for them. He doesn’t hold a title but he has that large fan base and a big personality, which would help generate big profits for everyone involved.
The bottom line for Garcia: He has a lot of good options.
Gervonta Davis vs. Rolando Romero live updates and results, full coverage.
Lightweight contenders Gervonta Davis and Rolando Romero will face off in a 12-round bout Saturday in Brooklyn on pay-per-view.
Boxing Junkie will post results of the featured bouts on the card immediately after they end. Simply return to this post when the time comes.
Also on the card: Erislandy Lara vs. Gary O’Sullivan, middleweights; Jesus Ramos vs. Luke Santamaria, junior middleweights; and Eduardo Ramirez vs. Luis Melendez, junior lightweights.
The televised/streamed portion of the card begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Full coverage – a fight story, photo gallery and analysis – will follow on separate posts the night of the fight and the following day.
Gervonta Davis vs. Rolando Romero live updates and results, full coverage.
Lightweight contenders Gervonta Davis and Rolando Romero will face off in a 12-round bout Saturday in Brooklyn on pay-per-view.
Boxing Junkie will post results of the featured bouts on the card immediately after they end. Simply return to this post when the time comes.
Also on the card: Erislandy Lara vs. Gary O’Sullivan, middleweights; Jesus Ramos vs. Luke Santamaria, junior middleweights; and Eduardo Ramirez vs. Luis Melendez, junior lightweights.
The televised/streamed portion of the card begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Full coverage – a fight story, photo gallery and analysis – will follow on separate posts the night of the fight and the following day.
Rolando Romero said that “if (Gervonta Davis) makes it out of the first round, he’ll be blessed.”
A lot of people have been impressed with the accomplishments of lightweight contender Gervonta Davis. Rolando Romero, Davis’ opponent on pay-per-view Saturday, isn’t one of them.
Take Davis’ decision victory over Isaac Cruz in December, in which he overcame what he said was an injured hand to win a close decision in a 12-round bout. Romero’s take on that fight? Davis doesn’t like strong, aggressive opponents, like he is.
Davis, he said, “is not that impressive.”
“That fight showed he’s afraid of punchers,” Romero told Boxing Junkie, referring to the Davis-Cruz fight. “He’s afraid someone will take his s— and beat the s— out of him. … He’s going to get knocked out quick.
“If he makes it out of the first round, he’ll be blessed.”
Yes, Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) is confident in spite of his relative lack of experience.
The 26-year-old native of Las Vegas reportedly had only 35 amateur fights, meaning he’s taken part in 49 organized bouts in total. Davis, an outstanding amateur, is closing in on a reported 250 total amateur and professional fights.
Romero narrowly got past a stubborn Jackson Marinez in August 2020 but stopped Avery Sparrow and Anthony Yigit in his subsequent two bouts to earn a shot at arguably the most-talented 135-pounder in the world on Saturday.
And he’s had more than enough time to prepare. He was scheduled to face Davis on Dec. 5 but was pulled from the show – and replaced by Cruz – as a result of sexual assault allegations levelled against him. No charges were filed.
He said he has essentially been training since before the December fight.
“It’s been a blessing,” he said of the extra time. “Not everyone gets a second chance. Am I more ready than last time? It’s like night and day. I’m a completely different person. I wasn’t eating potato chips and all that stuff. I spent time working out and focusing on my craft.”
Romero made time to watch Dmitry Bivol’s upset unanimous-decision victory over Canelo Alvarez on May 7.
He has always thought that he has what it takes to beat Davis. Bivol-Alvarez merely underscored the reality that even highly regarded fighters like Alvarez – or Davis, this case – are vulnerable against the right opponent.
Romero believes he’s that opponent, in part because he’s the naturally bigger man.
“[Bivol-Alvarez] just shows that anything can happen in boxing,” he said. “They thought Canelo would win. And some people think this little m—–f—– (Davis) is going to beat me. … I’m obviously the bigger puncher.
“It’s going to be beneficial to the sport of boxing when I win.”
What does he mean by that?
Davis (26-0, 24 KOs) is one of the biggest stars in the sport, as evidenced by his social media following. That’s why he has become a pay-per-view fighter.
Romero contends that Davis is popular primarily because of his association with his promoter, Floyd Mayweather. He believes he has the genuine star power that his better-known opponent lacks.
“Why am I promoting the show? he said, a reference to the many interviews he has conducted. “Why do you need a dude with 14 fights and zero amateur background to carry the show? Shouldn’t it be the superstar?
“He ain’t doing s—. I’m the one building the fight, I’m the one trying to be a star.”
He went on: “Floyd promoted the hell out of him, him being a champion, being a star. They all tune in because of Floyd. Tank has no personality, he’s slow. He has a hard time speaking. I’m better for the sport of boxing. That should be obvious.”
We’ll see whether he’s the better fighter on Saturday.”
Rolando Romero said that “if (Gervonta Davis) makes it out of the first round, he’ll be blessed.”
A lot of people have been impressed with the accomplishments of lightweight contender Gervonta Davis. Rolando Romero, Davis’ opponent on pay-per-view Saturday, isn’t one of them.
Take Davis’ decision victory over Isaac Cruz in December, in which he overcame what he said was an injured hand to win a close decision in a 12-round bout. Romero’s take on that fight? Davis doesn’t like strong, aggressive opponents, like he is.
Davis, he said, “is not that impressive.”
“That fight showed he’s afraid of punchers,” Romero told Boxing Junkie, referring to the Davis-Cruz fight. “He’s afraid someone will take his s— and beat the s— out of him. … He’s going to get knocked out quick.
“If he makes it out of the first round, he’ll be blessed.”
Yes, Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) is confident in spite of his relative lack of experience.
The 26-year-old native of Las Vegas reportedly had only 35 amateur fights, meaning he’s taken part in 49 organized bouts in total. Davis, an outstanding amateur, is closing in on a reported 250 total amateur and professional fights.
Romero narrowly got past a stubborn Jackson Marinez in August 2020 but stopped Avery Sparrow and Anthony Yigit in his subsequent two bouts to earn a shot at arguably the most-talented 135-pounder in the world on Saturday.
And he’s had more than enough time to prepare. He was scheduled to face Davis on Dec. 5 but was pulled from the show – and replaced by Cruz – as a result of sexual assault allegations levelled against him. No charges were filed.
He said he has essentially been training since before the December fight.
“It’s been a blessing,” he said of the extra time. “Not everyone gets a second chance. Am I more ready than last time? It’s like night and day. I’m a completely different person. I wasn’t eating potato chips and all that stuff. I spent time working out and focusing on my craft.”
Romero made time to watch Dmitry Bivol’s upset unanimous-decision victory over Canelo Alvarez on May 7.
He has always thought that he has what it takes to beat Davis. Bivol-Alvarez merely underscored the reality that even highly regarded fighters like Alvarez – or Davis, this case – are vulnerable against the right opponent.
Romero believes he’s that opponent, in part because he’s the naturally bigger man.
“[Bivol-Alvarez] just shows that anything can happen in boxing,” he said. “They thought Canelo would win. And some people think this little m—–f—– (Davis) is going to beat me. … I’m obviously the bigger puncher.
“It’s going to be beneficial to the sport of boxing when I win.”
What does he mean by that?
Davis (26-0, 24 KOs) is one of the biggest stars in the sport, as evidenced by his social media following. That’s why he has become a pay-per-view fighter.
Romero contends that Davis is popular primarily because of his association with his promoter, Floyd Mayweather. He believes he has the genuine star power that his better-known opponent lacks.
“Why am I promoting the show? he said, a reference to the many interviews he has conducted. “Why do you need a dude with 14 fights and zero amateur background to carry the show? Shouldn’t it be the superstar?
“He ain’t doing s—. I’m the one building the fight, I’m the one trying to be a star.”
He went on: “Floyd promoted the hell out of him, him being a champion, being a star. They all tune in because of Floyd. Tank has no personality, he’s slow. He has a hard time speaking. I’m better for the sport of boxing. That should be obvious.”
We’ll see whether he’s the better fighter on Saturday.”
Oscar De La Hoya said he would make a fight between Ryan Garcia and Manny Pacquiao ‘in a heartbeat.’
Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
***
Oscar De La Hoya would love to make a fight this year between his young contender Ryan Garcia and legendary fighter Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao could fight Conor McGregor before the end of the year and perhaps take one more fight before he retires to focus on politics in his native Philippines. He’s a senator.
“I would make that in a heartbeat,” said De La Hoya told Snowqueen LA. “I would literally make that fight. And I would make that fight at the end of this year or the first quarter of next year.
“I love that fight for Ryan. That takes Ryan to a whole another level. When you’re inside fighting with a legend, it’s kind of like changing of the guards. When I fought Floyd Mayweather, and he beat me, Floyd Mayweather skyrocketed to superstardom. …”
“And when Manny Pacquiao fought me and beat me, he skyrocketed to superstardom. This would be the same thing. It would be the changing of the guard for Ryan Garcia and Manny Pacquiao.”
De La Hoya believes that anyone considering a fight with Garcia should act quickly because he’s getting better every day.
“Ryan Garcia, the longer people wait to fight him, the longer these fights take to happen, the more dangerous he’s going to get,” De La Hoya said. “Ryan Garcia, he wants Tank Davis tomorrow.
“He wants to fight and he says he’ll knock him out in two rounds, and we’re going to push for that fight because that’s what he wants. If for some reason it doesn’t get made, the more time that passes by, Ryan Garcia gets better and better.
“He’s going to become a force that is going to be unstoppable. When he tightens up his defense, when he gets stronger. He hasn’t developed his man strength yet, and he’s already very strong. His speed is impeccable.
“Yeah, I want that fight (Davis vs. Garcia) to happen, but if for some reason it doesn’t happen and it happens down the road … the more time that passes the better the chances for Ryan against anyone.”
De La Hoya added that Garcia is unusual beyond his ability.
“Ryan Garcia is a special fighter inside and outside of the ring,” De La Hoya said. “If you put together an Elvis Presley and Brad Pitt, a Canelo Alvarez, and Oscar De La Hoya, you have Ryan Garcia
“If Ryan can somehow defeat Pacquiao, it’ll take his career to the next level. He’ll be transformed into a star overnight.”
