Tag: GERVONTA DAVIS
Gervonta Davis-Ryan Garcia is on!
Many boxing fans were let down after Errol Spence-Terence Crawford was not made, but they got some good news on Thursday.
It was announced on social media by both Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia that they would fight sometime in 2023.
According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, the bout will be contested at a 136-pound catchweight and is slated to take place in April and will be produced and distributed by Showtime. In addition, DAZN, which streams Garcia’s fights, will offer the PPV through its services.
Garcia is excited to get this fight done.
I’m so pumped this fight is finally in place — I want it more than anything right now,” Garcia said via Twitter. “I’ve put in the work, I’m at the prime of my career, and I know I’m going to be the biggest boxer in the world. That legacy starts today.”
Davis added via Twitter:
“I’ll be back in the ring Jan 7 stay tuned for more details! After that it’s me and Ryan signed sealed delivered…done deal!”
Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza believes this is one of the biggest fights that can be made in boxing.
“Tank Davis vs. Ryan Garcia is one of the biggest and most exciting fights that can be made in boxing. We have two supremely talented boxers, both in their prime, who have amassed huge fanbases, meeting in a career-defining fight,” Espinoza said via a statement. “This is the epitome of a crossover boxing event. All credit to Tank and Ryan for staying the course and giving the fans the fight they want.
“SHOWTIME has delivered the three biggest pay-per-view events in television history, and we are thrilled to add this marquee event to our list of culture-moving matchups.”
Garcia’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya, said this via Twitter:
“The fans have been crystal clear that the fight they want is Ryan versus Tank,” De La Hoya said. “Golden Boy Promotions and I are proud to be leading the drive to get this fight signed and are excited to get a deal finalized ASAP. It’s high time that those outside the ring stop getting in the way of those who want nothing more than to get into the ring and fight. Our motto has always been that the fans come first, and this is just another example of how we’re leading by example.”
Again, according to Davis, he will have a tune-up fight on January 7, so if all goes well, hopefully, the fight will still happen.
Cruz: ‘We want the rematch with Gervonta Davis’
In the co-main event, top lightweight contender Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz (24-2-1, 17 KOs) delivered a highlight-reel knockout over veteran contender Eduardo Ramirez (27-3-3, 12 KOs) in the second round of their showdown.
Already a fan-favorite after giving three-division world champion Gervonta Davis all he could handle in defeat at this same arena last December, Mexico City’s Cruz entered the ring to roaring approval as he looked for another statement victory.
“I was ready to win at all costs, for my family and what better way to win than here in front of all the great fans in Los Angeles,” said Cruz.”
Photos: Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions
Midway through round two, Davis showed the fight-changing power that he possesses and that has helped make him a fan favorite in Los Angeles and beyond. Cruz first connected flush with a big left hook around a Ramirez jab that sent Ramirez to the mat hard.
While Ramirez was able to get to his feet, Cruz pushed forward, sensing his moment to end the fight. Using a feint right hand, Ramirez caught Cruz cleanly with another left hook and followed up with a powerful right hand to score a second knockdown. This time referee Jack Reiss jumped in immediately and halt the bout 2:27 into the round.
“I lost and I have to accept that,” said Ramirez. “I’ll get better and move forward. I felt like I was fighting well and then everything turned all of a sudden. That’s just boxing. Now I’m going to rest, recover and plan my next moves going forward. But I’ll definitely be back, you can count on that.”
In his post-fight interview with FOX Sports’ Heidi Androl, Cruz declared his intention to rematch WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis, who was seated ringside.
“We want the rematch with Gervonta Davis,” said Cruz. “That’s what these fans want. I promised the knockout tonight and we got it done.”
Romero wants all the big names at 135, including rematch with Davis
A few days have passed, and Rolando Romero (14-1, 12 KOs) has reflected on his fight in which he lost to Gervonta “Tank” Davis (27-0, 25 KOs), in front of a record-setting crowd at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
“I lost to the better man that night, I felt was doing a good job backing him up with my jab,” said Romero when reflecting on the fight. “I was winning the fight and I made a mistake and got caught. I will work hard to get back to the top with the goal to become a champion. Much respect to Tank and I wish him well. “The Rolly Show” must go on.”
The 26-year-old Romero, who many discounted going into this bout, proved that he is one of the top lightweights in the world, and despite being listed as an underdog by the oddsmakers, never appeared to be outclassed by one of the best fighters in the world until the knockout punch landed.
The Las Vegas native has made it clear that he is already back in the gym and wants the very best competition that is available. Whether it is Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, or George Kambosos Jr., Romero is interested in pursuing fights with all the top fighters in the division.
“I’ll be ready to get back in the ring as soon as my name is called,” said Romero in closing. “I know I got what it takes to be a world champion, and sooner than later, I will accomplish that goal. I made a name for myself and now I can get those big fights with all the top fighters in the division. Haney, Garcia, Kambosos, I want to fight them all. At some point, I will want my rematch with Tank, but I know I’ll have to work my back to that position.”
Photo: Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing
Gervonta Davis has done it again!
There was a lot of trash-talking leading up to the fight between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Rolando “Rolly” Romero Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd(18,970) at Barclays Center(Showtime PPV) in Brooklyn, but only one man could back it up.
Davis ended the night with a left hook in Round 6 that sent Romero face-first into the ropes and onto the mat. Romero got up, but he could not continue as referee David Fields halted the action with 21 seconds left in the round as Davis defeated Romero by TKO.
The 27-year-old Davis retains his WBA(secondary) 135-pound title with the victory.
“The crazy thing is that I didn’t even throw it that hard,” said Davis about the punch that dropped Romero. “He just ran into it. He just ran into it—something like when Manny Pacquiao got caught. I didn’t even throw it that hard, and he’s the one who ran into it when he was talking that it was going to be me.
Photo: Ryan Hafey/Premier B
It wasn’t the most action packed fight as both guys, who are not high volume punchers, seemed a little wary of each other’s power, but you knew with the power these guys have that it only could take one punch to end the night.
“He was strong for sure, but there were a couple shots that I was getting warmed up with, and he caught me, and I was like, ‘I can’t sit with him just yet,’” said Davis. “I know when to take it to my opponents and when to chill out. There was someone in the crowd, and they were telling me to press forward, and I was like, not yet. I got to loosen him up a little more.”
Barclays Center has been good to Davis(27-0, 25 KOs). Saturday’s event was the highest grossing and most attended boxing event in the venue’s history, and it was the place where he won his first world title via a star-making 2017 KO of Jose Pedraza.
“We did it again in New York City, baby,” said Davis. “Thank you, New York City. I won my first belt here, and it was great to come back to Brooklyn and do it again.”
Romero (14-1, 12 KOs), who promised a first-round knockout, and was outlanded 25-22, felt he was in control of the action.
“I want the fight again,” said Romero. “I exposed him and won every single round. I jumped into something and ate a stupid shot.”
We probably won’t see this fight again.
Davis, whose contract with Mayweather Promotions ended after the win, says he will stay with the promotional company at the postfight press conference, but that could change.
However, it’s time for better competition.
Because of the business of boxing, it still might be challenging to make the big fights. Ryan Garcia, who was in attendance for the fight, would be an ideal opponent, but he’s with Golden Boy/DAZN, which could make things tricky.
The winner of the undisputed clash at 135 pounds between George Kambosos-Devin Haney would be even more ideal, but if Haney wins, Kambosos has a rematch clause, so they could be tied up with that.
So, we’ll see what happens next for Davis, but let’s hope it’s a big one coming soon.
Tank on Romero: ‘He’s predicting a first round knockout, but I’m predicting something else’
Gervonta “Tank” Davis and unbeaten No.1 ranked contender and mandatory challenger Rolando Romero kicked off fight week Wednesday at a media workout before they square off in the SHOWTIME PPV main event this Saturday, May 28 headlining a Premier Boxing Champions event from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The media workout also featured WBA Middleweight Champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara and hard-hitting Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan, who square off in the co-main event, sensational young star Jesús “Mono” Ramos and Luke Santamaría, who compete in a 10-round super welterweight showdown, plus hard-hitting contender Eduardo Ramírez and Puerto Rico’s Luis Meléndez, who kick off the telecast at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Here is what Davis and Romero had to say Wednesday from world famous Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn:
GERVONTA DAVIS
Photos from Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
“It means a lot to be back at Barclays Center. The atmosphere here is incredible. This is a great city. I wouldn’t want to fight anywhere else. I’m grateful to have a great fanbase here and we’re excited.
“I’m not emotional about what ‘Rolly’ is saying. At first I was, but he showed me that he’s just a hype job. He’s trying to hype himself up to get into the fight. It feels like he’s acting fake right now. He’s never been in this position and you can tell.
“We have to wait and see what happens. He’s predicting a first round knockout, but I’m predicting something else. Make sure you buy the PPV or come out if you’re in Brooklyn, because it’s going to be a hell of a fight for sure.
“A lot of fighters are calling each other out but aren’t fighting. He worked his way up to this point and called me out. Now the fight is happening, so it’ll be great to have him on my resume after he talked all that trash.
“The fight is here. I’m sure it’ll be a little tense at the press conference, but not for me. I’m only worrying about getting in there Saturday and handling business.
“I think I’m growing as I continue on this path. I feel as though I’m getting better and better each day. I’m trying to walk like a champion just as much as I fight like a champion. I have two great daughters that I’m trying to raise and I’m trying to be the best person I can be.
“It’s going to be a hell of a fight. I know that it’s going to be fireworks for sure. He’s coming with a lot of power and emotion and I’m coming with my power for sure. I just can’t wait. It’s a big night for boxing.”
ROLANDO ROMERO
“Look at the resume of his fights. He’s faced weight drained guys, U.K. fighters, 122 and 126 pounders, and guys past their prime. Mario Barrios was weight drained in a damn bathtub for eight hours straight. I also thought Isaac Cruz beat him up.
“Davis didn’t show up to sparring twice when we agreed to it, because he’s scared of me. He says I’m scared, but that guy is scared of me.
“This feels really good. It’s about time he gets in the ring with me. I’m built for this moment and this fight. Not everyone is built for this. Davis obviously isn’t built for this. He can’t even say a word. I’m the superstar here.
“I already think I’m pound-for-pound number one, so I definitely should be in that spot after I win on Saturday.
“He’s going to get knocked out in one round. He’s been knocked down in the gym a bunch of times. He gets wobbled, knocked out and all sorts of hurt. I feel bad for him.
“I’m going to go in there and beat him up. That’s my only game plan.
“Make your money betting on me in this fight. We’re all going to get rich together.”
Luis Arias-Jimmy Williams, Hackett-Belloso to battle on Tank-Romero undercard
Super welterweight contender Luis “Cuba” Arias will face Jimmy Williams in a 10-round showdown, while exciting welterweight prospect Jalil “Major” Hackett takes on unbeaten Jose Belloso for a six-round attraction in undercard bouts that will stream live on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube page this Saturday, May 28 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
The streaming action will begin at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT and lead into the highly-anticipated SHOWTIME PPV lineup headlined by WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis, boxing’s hottest young attraction, taking on unbeaten No.1 ranked contender and mandatory challenger Rolando Romero.
The SHOWTIME PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features two division world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara defending his WBA Middleweight Title against hard-hitting Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan in the co-main event. Plus, sensational young star Jesús “Mono” Ramos faces Luke Santamaría in a 10-round super welterweight showdown, while hard-hitting contender Eduardo Ramírez battles Puerto Rico’s Luis Meléndez in the 10-round super featherweight telecast opener.
A native of Milwaukee who now trains out of Las Vegas, Mayweather Promotions’ Arias (19-3-1, 9 KOs) will look to bounce back on Saturday night from a split-decision loss to Vaughn Alexander in December. Prior to that fight, Arias had scored a career-best victory in June 2021, as he earned a decision victory over former unified champion Jarrett Hurd on the Mayweather vs. Paul SHOWTIME PPV undercard. Arias has also battled former champion Daniel Jacobs and owns a draw against veteran contender Gabriel Rosado. He will take on New Haven, Connecticut’s Williams (18-7-2, 6 KOs), who also will be looking to return to the win column after dropping a March contest to unbeaten Tyron James. The 35-year-old Williams owns a 2021 victory over former champion Yuri Foreman and has fought everywhere from 140 to 160 pounds throughout his career, having faced top contenders such as Brandun Lee and Abel Ramos.
Hackett (3-0, 2 KOs), a fast-rising prospect in the Mayweather Promotions’ stable, will look to continue his road toward becoming the next great fighter representing Washington, D.C. as he continues his burgeoning pro career on Saturday night. The 19-year-old turned pro in June 2021, scoring a first-round knockout of Angelo Diaz. He followed that up with another first-round knockout in October, before earning a shutout four-round unanimous decision over Darynn Levya in December. He will face off against the fellow unbeaten Belloso (4-0, 4 KOs), who is yet to go the distance since turning pro in June 2021. The 29-year-old is originally from Carson, California and now resides in Arkansas, having most recently stopped Anthony Woods in three rounds in December.
In non-televised undercard bouts, New York-native Arnold Gonzalez (9-0, 5 KOs) will take on Tracey McGruder (6-2, 4 KOs) in a six-round welterweight fight, plus Cincinnati’s Adrian Benton (6-0, 4 KOs) competes in a six-round super lightweight duel versus Mexico’s Jose Antonio Meza (8-6, 2 KOs), while Baltimore’s Cuttino Oliver (1-0, 1 KO) faces South Carolina’s Jahden Lewis (2-1, 1 KO) in a four-round super bantamweight attraction and Baltimore’s Mia Ellis (4-0, 3 KOs) steps in against Haiti’s Jaica Pavilus (2-1, 1 KO) for a six-round lightweight showdown.
Romero on fight with Davis: ‘One round, I’m knocking him out’
Unbeaten lightweight contender Rolando Romero is getting prepared for the biggest fight of his life when he battles Gervonta “Tank” Davis(28-0, 24 KOs) on May 28 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn(Showtime PPV).
Romero(14-0, 12 KOs) was scheduled to fight Davis in December 2021, but he was hit with sexual assault allegations and was removed from the fight. Romero has been cleared of those allegations, and now, he gets a shot at the undefeated Davis.
Photo: Sean Michael Ham/Mayweather Promotions
“One round, I’m knocking him out,” Romero said of Davis during a media workout Tuesday in Las Vegas. “If I say I’m going to do it, then I’m going to do it.
“He’s going to get knocked out by the first punch that he eats. He’s going to run right into something.”
Romero and Davis have bad blood. The two have sparred at press conferences, and according to Romero, the reason for the bad blood is that Davis would not spar him in the ring.
“I don’t like ‘Tank’ as a person, and I believe he’s going to get whupped in this fight,” Romero said.
“He ducked me twice for sparring, and the bad blood has been there ever since. I’ve been calling him out since 2017. The only reason this fight was made was because I wanted it. He doesn’t want this. He wishes he was fighting some 126 or 122-pounder.”
Romero had to watch as his replacement Issac Cruz got a shot against Davis in a close fight. Davis won by unanimous decision, but Romero believed the wrong guy won.
“I thought Isaac Cruz beat Gervonta,” Romero said. “That fight showed just how vulnerable he is. He’s scared of people that can actually crack.”
Romero had one final message for Davis.
“I don’t have any message for Davis; I just have these fists.”
Both fighters have power, which should make for a fun night in Brooklyn.
Lara-O’Sullivan, Ramos-Santamaria added to Davis-Romero undercard
The SHOWTIME PPV undercard for Gervonta Davis vs. Rolando Romero will feature three exciting, explosive matchups entering the ring in high-stakes action on Saturday, May 28 live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn in a Premier Boxing Champions event.
Two-division world champion Erislandy “The American Dream” Lara will defend his WBA Middleweight Title against hard-hitting, Irish crowd-pleaser Gary “Spike” O’Sullivan in an all-action co-main event of the telecast, which begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Sensational young star Jesús “Mono” Ramos will put his unbeaten record on the line against rugged super welterweight battler Luke Santamaría in a 10-round showdown on the pay-per-view, while hard-hitting contender Eduardo Ramírez battles Puerto Rico’s Luis Meléndez in a 10-round super featherweight thriller that shapes up to deliver toe-to-toe action opening up the telecast.
Lara (28-3-3, 16 KOs) was the longest reigning 154-pound world champion before he lost a tough split-decision to Jarrett Hurd in a title unification match in 2018 that earned “Fight of the Year” from the BWAA. Lara returned from that fight and battled current 154-pound world titleholder Brian Castaño to an exciting draw in another narrow fight that could have gone Lara’s way. Lara most recently moved up to middleweight, capturing his WBA title with a first round knockout of Thomas LaManna in May 2021. Lara faced a slew of the top 154-pounders in the sport, including Canelo Alvarez, ahead of his middleweight debut.
“I’m ready to get back in the ring and show the fans that I’m still a world class fighter,” said Lara. “Gary O’Sullivan has proven to be a tough opponent for everyone he’s faced, and his only losses are to champions. I’ve been in many great fights and it will be no different when I step into the ring at Barclays Center. Being on this stage always brings out the best in me and fans can expect to see my power in this fight.’’
A native of Cork, Ireland, O’Sullivan (31-4, 21 KOs) has won three of his last four fights leading into his title shot against Lara on May 28. O’Sullivan’s aggressive style has made him a fan-favorite each time he steps into the ring. He has faced a deep roster of top names, including David Lemieux, Jaime Munguia, Chris Eubank Jr., and Billy Joe Saunders. O’Sullivan scored a career-best victory in December 2017, as he stopped rising prospect Antoine Douglas during a five-fight knockout streak.
“From the very first time I watched boxing, I’ve always dreamed of being a world champion and from the first day I turned professional I’ve worked towards that goal,” said O’Sullivan. “I’ve had some setbacks, but I’ve gone back to the drawing board, regrouped, righted some wrongs and kept pushing forward. I’ve always known that one day the chips would fall in my favor. I’m coming to rip that belt back to Ireland and hear the words, ‘And the new!’”
A strong southpaw who at 21 has yet to come close to hitting his ceiling as a fighter, Ramos (18-0, 15 KOs) is the nephew of welterweight contender Abel Ramos, who was defeated in February by Santamaría via unanimous decision. Jesus knocked out tough contender Vladimir Hernandez in February on that same card. Prior to that impressive outing, Ramos had shown the ability to outpoint his opponents with back-to-back 10-round unanimous decisions over Brian Mendoza in September 2021 and Javier Molina in May 2021. Overall, the youthful Ramos has gained recognition with highlight-reel KOs, stopping six of his last eight opponents, showcasing a desire to end his fights early.
“Training out in Las Vegas has been going great so far,” said Ramos. “We’ve had some great sparring out here. We expect Santamaria to move around the entire fight, so we’re going to be ready to cut the ring off and land heavy shots. I’m going to win on May 28 because of the preparation I’ve been doing, but I’m not underestimating anyone and will prepare to the best of my ability.”
The 24-year-old Santamaría (13-2-1, 7 KOs) will look to continue his success against the Ramos family as he steps into the ring after back-to-back impressive victories, first defeating two-division champion Devon Alexander in August 2021 before defeating Abel Ramos in February on less than two weeks’ notice. Santamaría had previously dropped a decision to top prospect and SHOBOX: The New Generation® alum Paul Kroll in October 2020, following an August 2020 triumph over veteran contender Mykal Fox that saw him put Fox down in the first round. The Garden Grove, Calif. native also owns a decision over Willie Jones and a majority draw against SHOBOX® prospect Marquis Taylor in his 2019 contests.
“I’m daring to be great in this fight,” said Santamaría. “That’s the main reason I agreed to fight Ramos. I’ve shown that I’m willing to compete against anyone, because I believe in my training and my abilities. This is going to be a great fight for the fans and I can’t wait to step in there on May 28.”
Fighting out of Sinaloa, Mexico, Ramírez (26-2-3, 12 KOs) has risen up the rankings with four-straight victories, including most recently defeating Miguel Marriaga in December 2021. He previously had stopped then-unbeaten Leduan Barthelemy in November 2019 before blasting out Miguel Flores in December 2020. The 29-year-old is currently riding wins in six of his last seven fights since losing to then featherweight champion Lee Selby in 2017. He’s won 17 of his last 20 fights overall, including a March 2019 knockout victory at Barclays Center.
“I’m happy to be returning to Brooklyn for this fight,” said Ramírez. “I scored a big knockout last time I was there, even though I was the underdog going into the fight. My plan is to deliver a moment like that once again. I’m already in great shape and I will be prepared for a war on May 28.”
Originally from Puerto Rico and now fighting out of Miami, Fla., Meléndez (17-1, 13 KOs) has moved into contender status with an undefeated streak after dropping his third pro fight back in 2018 via split decision. The 24-year-old was busy in 2021, winning eight times, including six victories by knockout. Most recently, Melendez scored a career-best victory over Thomas Mattice in November, winning a unanimous decision after eight rounds. Melendez’s clash with Ramírez shapes up to be a classic Puerto Rico-Mexico ring war.
“I’m very excited to be on a big card like this,” said Meléndez. “I’m grateful for the opportunity and I’m coming to put my name on the map come May 28. The winner of this fight is going to be the fans. I’m going to make Puerto Rico proud once again and display my talents in the ring. I want to thank my team and say that I’m not going to disappoint, because this is just the beginning for me.”
Davis, Spence, Charlo brothers, Benavidez headline Showtime/PBC upcoming boxing schedule
SHOWTIME Sports and Premier Boxing Champions today announced nine boxing events across the first half of 2022
The lineup pits champions against champions and top contenders against top contenders to form the strongest and most ambitious schedule in the industry.
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Nine marquee events across five months featuring 21 undefeated fighters;
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Two world championship unifications bouts, one for all four world title belts and the coveted title of Undisputed Champion, and one for three world title belts;
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Seven world championship matches with at least 13 world title belts at stake and three world title eliminators;
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All of the top-six ranked super welterweights fighting in a seven-week span;
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Several pivotal crossroads fights from super bantamweight to super middleweight with an average of two events per month through July.