Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia: Top trainers offer big-fight predictions
Boxing received a much-needed power-up on Friday when Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia was officially announced for April 22 in Las Vegas (location to be determined). This 12-round, 136-pound catchweight competition will be televised by Showtime PPV and DAZN PPV.
MORE: Everything you need to know about Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia
While no world title is at stake, the Davis-Garcia fight is one of the most anticipated in the sport. Both fighters’ sizable followings alongside their unbeaten records, rapier speed and state-of-the-art firepower almost guarantee the kind of excitement that boxing has been sorely lacking.
Davis, 28, (26-0, 24 KOs) is a three-time super featherweight champion who has also captured secondary lightweight and super lightweight belts. The Baltimore southpaw is firmly established as one of the top knockout artists in the world today. Tank’s signature wins include Jose Pedraza (TKO 7), Yuriorkis Gamboa (TKO 12), and Leo Santa Cruz (KO 6).
Garcia, 24, has yet to win a world championship, but he’s crossed every “t” and scored every “i” while posting a flawless 23-0 (19 KOs) record. While King Ry doesn’t match Davis in world-level experience, he does have significant advantages in height and range. The striking Californian’s best career win is a seventh-round TKO over former Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell.
The Sporting News has reached out to a host of world-class coaches for some early predictions ahead of this thunderous clash:
David Coldwell
Current trainer of former European Featherweight Champion Jordan Gill and frontrunner Hopey Price
“Garcia has his chin quite high and that’s the concern, especially during the exchange. You can see him being bombed right now.
“Tank’s guilty of loading, but he’s got a very good boxing brain—a very underrated boxing brain. We always think about his strength, but he has very good speed and skills.
“What makes it intriguing is that Tank might keep reloading and because of Garcia’s range and his own speed, he might end up holding him at the end of his long shots and hurting him.
“I just think they’re going to exchange and I can’t see Garcia not being tagged. Garcia was dropped pretty badly by Luke Campbell and if Tank hurts you, you’re going to stay hurt.”
Forecast: Davis by KO
Stephen “Breadman” Edwards
Trainer for former IBF Super Middleweight Champion Caleb Plant
“It’s a great fight but I think it’s going to be more of a chess game than people think. Davis is a minimalist. He’s very frugal and doesn’t give you much until it’s time to explode. I don’t see this as an epic Corrales-Castillo match, I see it as a chess game between big punchers.
“It’s a very winnable fight for Ryan Garcia, make no mistake. With the right game plan he can win this fight because since Tank is a minimalist he can use that against him and pick and poke his way to a decision without I just taking any chances. I just have a feeling Davis will eventually force him to make a mistake and KO him in the second half of the fight.
Forecast: Davis by KO
Peter Fury
Current trainer of former WBO middleweight champion Savannah Marshall
“I think Ryan Garcia is a very good fighter. He’s had his problems outside the ring, but if he gets to the point, he could win here.
“Garcia has excellent hand speed and reflexes but 12 rounds is a long time. Tank Davis ticks all the boxes. He’s a tough man and he can score. Let’s see how Garcia reacts in the second half as Tank tries to get him to bring case .
“Also, Garcia has been watching this fight but that seems like a good idea until he gets punched in the face.
“I’ve always felt this was a sport for young men. It’s 50-50 but Garcia is the younger man. I would lean towards Garcia. I don’t know if he can get him out of there, so I’ll go in a good, close fight on points towards Garcia.”
Forecast: Garcia by decision
Joe Gallagher
Current trainer for unified world super welterweight champion Natasha Jonas and former two-time world bantamweight champion Paul Butler
“Hopefully this is the start of all the big fights before boxing becomes an even smaller niche sport.
“You’ve got the speed, youth and brazen panache of Ryan Garcia, then you’ve got the phenomenal talent of Tank Davis.
“I was impressed with Tank when he fought Liam Walsh in the UK and the way he asserted himself [Leo] Santa Cruz with that uppercut was devastating.
“We see Garcia get dropped by Luke Campbell and get back up to win. There is a weak point there, but none of the fighters will be complacent in this one.
“It’s a great fight, but if you have to push me to choose now, I’ll go to the tank.”
Forecast: Davis by KO
Jamie Moore
Current trainer of undisputed super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron and top super lightweight contender Jack Catterall
“Garcia brings explosive power and the only question is can he make that work at this level?
“Tank fought through the weights and at 5ft 5in is very small for a lightweight. It’s Garcia who has the advantages in altitude and range, but Tank has made a career out of closing the gap and taking off on people.
“It’s a bit of a gamble from Tank because while we haven’t seen Garcia at that level it doesn’t mean he can’t work at that level.
“I believe Garcia can fight at world level and I think he will be around for many years to come. I’m just wondering if it’s a bit early for him.
“My gut tells me Garcia will succeed, but this tank will figure him out and end the fight between the sixth and eighth rounds.
“It’s a bloody great fight!”
Forecast: Davis by KO
Sean O’Hagen
Current trainer of former two-time world featherweight champion Josh Warrington and top lightweight Maxi Hughes
“A lot of people are going to prefer Davis to be honest, but I think Garcia wins.
“I like Garcia because he has youth on his side. He can box, he can fight, he has a little bit of everything. He has hand speed, reflexes and his size is a huge advantage. The size and reach allow him to get “His timing and his feet are right. He’s going to be throwing in those angled shots and uppercuts from below all night. I think he’s going to give Davis a lot of trouble.”
“Tank has the potential to end the fight in one punch so Garcia really needs to push that leading hand out. We saw it with Leigh Wood [against Mauricio Lara]. Leigh turned well after his attacks, but he forgot to take that small half step back.
“Garcia has to be on from start to finish but I think he’ll win on points.”
Forecast: Garcia by decision
Ronnie Shields
Current trainer of WBC middleweight champion Jermall Charlo
“I look forward to it. They’re two of the best in the lightweight division and I think it’s going to be a great fight. When you look at the styles, it just goes together perfectly.
“Gervonta has a lot of skills and is really smart. He knows he has the power to hurt anyone in the division. He can box, but if he has to go forward, he can do that too. And I think he’s the stronger fighter.
“Ryan’s good, man. Despite being dropped in a fight (by Luke Campbell), that was one instance where he wasn’t paying attention. And that punch woke him up and he got down to business. He’s proven that he can keep up when he has to.
“I think Garcia is the better boxer so I see Tank backing off during the fight and trying to lure Ryan into big shots. But in the later rounds, Tank will realize that he needs to move forward and I think that’s the right key for him to win the fight.”
Forecast: Davis by decision
Buzz: 5-2 Gervonta Davis