Fight day is nearly here and personally, I can’t think of a fight I’m not calling that I have been more excited for. My FOMO levels are so high, I am flying to Vegas as a fan to see this mega fight in person. (Anyone available to watch my kids?)
So what makes Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis the fight of the year so far in boxing?
Let’s start with Davis. Many have likened the Baltimore fighter to a miniature Mike Tyson. He has a raw energy that has captured a cult following. His “take it or leave it” attitude and game-changing power have led to sold out arenas and sky high expectations.
Garcia on the other hand is the complete opposite. He looks like a Disney prince, despite his new love for tattoos, and possesses a massive following on social media thanks to his model good looks, flashy hands and charming smile. And while they are completely different people, they are the same when it comes to being killers inside the squared circle.
Having been ringside for all of his fights the last 4 years, it’s clear to me why Garcia is such a talented operator inside the ropes. His hand speed is off the charts, he’s good at distance control and has that one-punch knockout power just like Davis.
We saw this against Francisco Fonseca and Romero Duno. Many fans expected them to be tough fights for Garcia, but they were brutally over in a flash…just like his nickname.
While Garcia may have a number of physical advantages, he cannot afford to be complacent against Tank. Quite often Davis will lose rounds and not seem interested. However, once he is locked in and figures you out, it’s over. Garcia needs to avoid being too one-dimensional as he will need to keep his rival off his toes throughout the fight.
The rehydration clause could play a major part in this fight but we won’t know until fight night how much it will affect Garcia. Regardless, he will need to start fast with Davis being a slow starter.
Garcia does not need to come out from the opening bell like a house on fire, but does need to win the early rounds and get the respect of Davis. If ‘Tank’ feels Ryan’s power and does not think much of it, then it could be curtains in Las Vegas for ‘King Ry’. In reality it might just come down to who has the better chin.
Either way, boxing doesn’t get many opportunities to crossover into the mainstream anymore, at least not on this level. Let’s hope these fighters, and this event live up to the massive expectations. If it does, the big winner will be the sport itself.