GERVONTA “TANK” DAVIS VS RYAN GARCIA: A SINK OR SWIM AFFAIR ON SATURDAY NIGHT
Fight analysis, statistics and predictions by Dennis Kweku Moore, Boxing writer, analyst and commentator.
Prelude:
I have relaxed a bit on my drawn predictions on epic ring battles due to the dwindling interest of the sport especially at the 200Ibs division where it has been turned into a conundrums of jokes.
I personally developed a keen interest in the “Gypsy King” after the trilogy histrionics with Alabama star, Deontay Wilder. Buddy got faded when he “ostensibly” vacated that contractual desire to face Usyk.
I shifted my attention to the Lightweight division where the real interest resides. Undoubtedly.
Coming back to the inky business, there is no way this particular upcoming battle between Gervonta Davis ( Tank) and Social media poster boy Ryan Garcia on April 22 would pass under my sleeves without being predicted.
The fight:
Honestly, this is a fight connoisseurs of the fistic sport have been waiting for. On the blank side, “Tank” has underrated this fight for s long time but Ryan’s consistent ring exploits has drawn the Baltimore native into realizing there is a task ahead.
And I believe every Ghanaian into boxing also has an interest in this showdown. Unfortunately,two Ghanaians who are tenants in this division seem sublimed for now as their glorious days look incandescent. Richard Commey and Emmanuel Tagoe find themselves in a den of venomous pugilists and so their personal mission and vision of acquiring a title soonest will obviously be a distant thought.
I will elicit the analysis in my next chapter but this fight indisputably would draw an end to the unending debate as to who truly is the landlord of the division.
Analysis
I am tempted to view this fight from diverse statistical optics on the two boxers. Let me begin by scribbling a bit on Gervonta Davis “Tank” and his ring exposure in recent times.
The 28 year Baltimore native stands atop on all predictions. His ring intelligent Quotient is unquestioned. He has amassed respect in pay per views in the last five years, a feat Garcia comes no where close. This implies the boxing populace endorses his ring artistry.
His list of victims over the last few years is overwhelming. Lightweight stalwarts in the likes of Mario Barrios, Leo Santa Cruz, Isaac”Pitbull” Cruz, Fonseca, Yuririos Gamboa are a whole lot of thesis to write about.
The IBF Super featherweight championship fight he had with Jose Pedraza on November 15,2016 was legendary. Pedraza was undefeated (22-0-12Kos). Infact, every boxing enthusiast needs to watch that particular fight and would appreciate how Pedraza was annihilated and knocked out first time ever in his life. Davis earned a paltry $75,000 with Pedraza taking home $225,000 in what was his third title defense.
Davis’ merciless and brutal KOs against Sanchez, Avila,Orozco,Jesus Cuellar and Ruiz are fathomless. At a point I was totally mesmerized how Yuriris Gamboa could succumb to the much smaller Davis. And that venomous KO on Leo Santa Cruz ( which he describes as his best KO of all time) is a script.
Recently, he engaged another rubble rouser ,Rolly Romero. The latter was bigger, had a longer reach and had every thinking arsenal to beat Davis. But Romero succumbed as well, in a devastating knockout outage.
In Analysing all those Davis has fought, it is interesting to note that majority of them are taller, bigger than the Baltimore Tank.
Analyse Gervonta Davis, and you would come across these qualities; handspeed, fastness, knockout expertise, swiftly defensive and and a reservoir of stamina.
Garcia
A handsome dude with social media following. What other boxers see as a serious issue, Garcia laughs over.
He also has a line of thick skinned boxers who are undergoing consistent reminders of his body shots. His trademark.
In 2018, Garcia unleashed an unpleasant body shot and an unpleasant vicious left hook on comical Rodriguez,forcing the former to get knocked out in pitiless fashion.
In 2019, Lopez was a victim in similar circumstances. The beatings on this chap was just too much.
On Valentines Day, 2014, Fonseca tasted his dangerous left hook and got knocked out.
English opponent, Luke Campbell, who had never been knocked down before in his life, visited the canvas yet again through another vicious body shot from Ryan Garcia. Infact, Garcia had recovered from an earlier round two knock down to take off the witty Englishman.
Garcia has fought a few Southpaws including Luke Campbell and Javier Fortuna. Fortuna (37-4-1,26KOs) also quit the ring after spitting his mouth guard and his main problem was ‘the body shot”.
Garcia’s merits involves his blistering handspeed, trademark left hook, Great skill and size advantage.
Predictions
So far as I am concerned, and after watching all the fights from both boxers, my bet is flatly placed on Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
Of all the fights I watched critically on Davis, and from the workrate in the ring ,coupled with the devastation of tougher foes, Tank wins in a brutal manner on Saturday night.
I will pick only two fights out of the lot to buttress my prediction. The fight against Leo Santa Cruz and Mario Barrios.
If Garcia is able to fight beyond what those two dangerous guys did, then I may eat my words.
According to Tank, his memorable victory demolition was the Santa Cruz fight. That KO looks far yet so close.
The fight that Garcia must watch, in my optical observation is the Mario Barrios tango. It was brutish, long standing action, intrepid and merciless. Tank showed his heart. He “ate” every poisonous punch from Mario. And what a heart Mario had? Absolutely incredible. The eventual fall in the 11th round was legendary.
Garcia is slow and equally merciless with his liver shots. But Tank is a shock absorber to those.
Garcia is capable of visiting the canvas. And he did against Luke Campbell in round 2 of their epic duel.
There will surely be a knockdown in this fight. Rounds 6,7 and 8 should be watched closely. Garcia should be able to protect his stamina and power.
Size and reach will not play any role in this showdown so far as I am concerned. Majority of Tank’s victims are taller than him. The antidote to size and reach so far as Tank is concerned is power.
Garcia is likely to fall by the mid action. And if the fight enters the championship rounds, Davis will sweep the scorecards.
It is a donedeal for Gervonta Tank Davis but Garcia must prove me wrong.
It’s fight night action! Are you ready?