Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis Stops Ryan Garcia on his Knees, Video Highlights, Post Fight Reactions & Post Presser
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Las Vegas, Nevada (April 23rd, 2023)– In the main event at –T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday night, April 22, 2023, Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis scored an impressive seventh round knockout of Ryan Garcia. The World Boxing Association World Lightweight title held by Davis was not at stake in this high stakes Showtime Pay-Per-View bout. Davis weighed 135, Garcia 135 ½ pounds. Davis was the betting favorite at -225, as you would have bet 225 dollars to win 100 dollars, while Garcia was the underdog at +195 at a bet of 100 dollars to win 195 dollars . The odds were on the money.
Garcia made the same fatal mistake as other Davis opponents. Garcia underestimated the boxing I.Q. of Davis. Garcia had height and reach advantage, and came forward with his jab to win round one, which Davis spotted him to see what Garcia had. His confidence boosted, Garcia walked into the Davis trap. Garcia came forward with pressure in round two, and tried to cut off the ring and manhandle Davis with power shots and combinations. One combination missed. Davis countered with a pinpoint accurate left which dropped Garcia.
Garcia got up, as he did against Luke Campbell in 2021. Garcia landed some good right hands, and Davis knew when to hold and did at the slightest hint of Garcia’s power. Garcia landed some good right hands in the fifth and sixth rounds, which Davis answered with counters, particularly to the body.
At 1:34 of the seventh round, the southpaw Davis, 29-0 with 27 knockouts, Baltimore, Maryland, landed a well-timed left hand body shot which looked like the liver was targeted, and Garcia, now 23-1 with 19 knockouts, Los Angeles, California, went down with a delayed reaction, much like Johnny Gonzalez did in the seventh round when it in the same location by Gerry Penalosa in a WBO World Bantamweight title bout in August 2007 at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. Garcia, like Gonzalez, could not overcome the accuracy of the punch, could not get up, and was ten counted out.
Result: Gervonta Davis KO 7 Ryan Garcia, Super Lightweights (1:44)
Garcia was down in second round. Garcia was ten counted out by referee Thomas Taylor.
On the undercard, Cuban David Morrell, 9-0 with eight knockouts, Minneapolis, Minnesota, knocked out late substitute southpaw opponent Yamaguchi Falcao, now 24-2-1 with 10 knockouts, Serra, Espirito Santo, Brazil, at 2:22 of the first round, to retain the World Boxing Association World Super Middleweight title. While the same height on paper, Morrell looked bigger in the ring in fact, and had a five inches reach advantage. Falcao claimed to be prepared for this bout, but was not, and the myth of the last minute opponent did not impress anybody. The still untested Morrell has yet to face Saul Alvarez, GGG, David Benavidez, Caleb Plant, Demetrius Andrade, Vladimir Shishkin or any world class fighter of note in the 168 pounds super middleweight division.
T-Mobile Arena Las Vegas Undercard Results
Bektemir Melikuziev Win 10 Gabriel Rosado, Super Middleweights
Melikuziev wins vacant WBA Inter-Continental Super Middleweight title.
12-1 Uzbek Melikuziev wins rematch of 2021 bout won by 26-17-1 Rosado by knockout.
Elijah Garcia Win 10 Kevin Salgado Zambrano, Middleweights
15-0 prospect Garcia retains WBC Latino and wins vacant WBA-Inter-Continental titles
Fiodr Czerkaszyn TKO 9 Elias Espadas, Middleweights (2:07)
22-0 Ukrainian Middleweight prospect Czerkaszyn is now fighting out of Warsaw, Poland
Vito Mielecki Jr. KO 4 Jose Sanchez Charles, Super Welterweights (0:33)
15-1 New Jersey prospect Mielicki defeats Mexican Charles-his first 20 wins opponent
Floyd Schofield TKO 2 Jesus Valentin Leon, Lightweights (1:51)
Texas 14-0 lightweight prospect Schofield stops 23-2-2 Sinaloa Mexican opponent Leon
Lorenzo Simpson Win 6 Pachino ‘Chino’ Hill, Middleweights
13-0 Baltimore, Maryland middleweight prospect Simpson goes distance with 8-2-1 Hill
Jalil Major Hackett TKO 3 Jason Phillips, Super Welterweights (2:20)
Rising 6-0 Washington D.C. super welterweight Hackett stops 3-4-1 Phillips
Cuttino Oliver TKO 3 Roberto Cantu Pena, Bantamweights
3-0 Baltimore, Maryland bantamweight Oliver opens the ten bout card, TKOs Mexican Pena
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