On January 2, 2021, Ryan Garcia captured the interim WBC lightweight title after dropping Luke Campbell with a powerful left hook to the body. While Garcia’s victory was the highlight of the evening, the biggest story came in Garcia’s post-fight interview. Several times during his interview, the California native called out fellow lightweight Gervonta “Tank” Davis. This call out included a moment where Garcia asked the 6,000 fans in attendance who they wanted him to fight next and then began chanting, “We want Tank.” This is a fight that many boxing fans have been hoping for, and things escalated quickly in the following days.
Garcia went on former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson’s podcast, “Hot Boxin with Mike Tyson,” just days after defeating Campbell. While talking to Tyson, Garcia further expressed his interest in a fight with Gervonta Davis. This prompted Tyson to video chat Gervonta Davis and see what his response was. The exchange that followed featured a series of insults and a verbal commitment from both fighters.
Garcia and Davis hurled insults at one another. Garcia mocked Davis’s height by saying he would need a “stair master” to hit him after Davis referenced the moment when Campbell scored a knocked down on Garcia in the second round, saying, “He got dropped by a guy that can’t even hit.” Davis even went so far as to say that if he had hit Garcia with the same punch that Campbell did, he would have “killed” Garcia. The most exciting moment of this heated exchange was when Garcia made a prediction for the potential fight. Garcia repeatedly said the words “two rounds,” making a prediction that it would take him two rounds to knock out Davis.
It’s no wonder that fans have been clamoring for this fight. Both Garcia and Davis are undefeated, with 18 of Garcia’s 21 wins coming by way of knock out and Davis with 23 KO wins of his own. Both fighters have also been affiliated with very popular fighters. Garcia has been affiliated with popular Mexican boxer and pound for pound best in the world, Canelo Alvarez, and Gervonta Davis has been famously mentored by the great Floyd Mayweather. Both fighters also bring their large personalities to the table, which always adds an extra level of excitement for fans.
Big fights have been hard to come by in recent boxing history. Back in the ’70s and ’80s, everyone fought everyone. It was not a rarity to see mega fights. However, it seems to have gotten harder and harder for fans to get the big fights between big names that they want. However, Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis seem to be determined to meet in the ring and give the fans what they want.
At the end of their heated exchange, both Garcia and Davis made a very clear verbal commitment to fight each other.
“I’ll fight him next,” Davis said.
Garcia responded with, “It’s set in stone now, baby.”
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