By Ian S Palmer
Unbeaten former WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis of Baltimore, Maryland will be moving up in weight to take on taking on undefeated WBA World Super Lightweight Champ Mario Barrios of San Antonio, Texas in Atlanta this Saturday, June 26th. The 12-round clash can be seen live in America on Showtime pay-per-view. Davis last fought in October when he stopped Leo Santa Cruz in the sixth round in a 130 lb title tilt. Barrios last boxed the same night when he stopped Ryan Karl in the sixth round.
The 26-year-old ‘Tank’ Davis was a 2012 National Golden Gloves Champion as an amateur and enters the fight with a perfect mark of 24-0 along with 23 big Kos. He’s fought just 85 rounds since turning pro back in 2013 due to his tremendous punching power and his knockouts over Santa Cruz, Ricardo Nunez, Jesus Cuellar, Hugo Ruiz, Jose Pedraza and Liam Walsh were exceptional. The southpaw has the talent and power to be a long-reigning champion.
Davis currently has a knockout ratio of 95.8 per cent with the only opponent to take him the distance as a pro being German Meraz when the pair went six rounds back in 2014. However, Davis still managed to drop him in both the third and fifth rounds. Davis stopped Pedraza in the seventh round for the IBF Super Featherweight Title in January of 2017 and then defended it four months later in England when he stopped Walsh in the third round.
Davis’ first title reign came to an end in August, 2017 against Francesco Fonseca though when he failed to make weight. However, he stopped Fonseca in the eighth round. He then won the WBA version against Cuellar in April 2018 and defended it against Ruiz and Nunez. Davis stands just over 5-feet-5-inches tall and has a reach of 67.5 inches. He’s obviously got a lot of dynamite in his fists and his chin passed the test when he met Santa Cruz the last time out.
The 26-year-old Barrios enters the ring with a perfect mark of 26-0 with 17 Kos. He made his pro debut in 2013 after his amateur career and has 131 rounds of experience under his belt. He won the vacant WBA Title in September, 2019 when he beat Batyr Akhmedov by unanimous decision after dropping him in the fourth and 12th rounds. He then beat Karl in his first title defence.
Barrios won the vacant WBA Inter-Continental Welterweight Title in July, 2018 by stopping Jose Roman after eight rounds. He stands 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 71-inch reach which gives him a 4.5-inch height advantage on Davis as well as a 3.5-inch edge in reach. Barrios also carries good power in his hands with a current knockout ratio of 65.4 per cent.
Barrios hasn’t taken on many top contenders as of yet and will be taking a step up in class against Davis. He’s also beaten the likes of Yardley Cruz, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Richard Zamora and Juan Jose Velasco. He does own good speed and power and will need to use his jab at range to keep Davis at bay if possible while trying to avoid a firefight.
Prediction…
Davis gives up the size and reach advantage to Barrios so will need to work his way inside without getting nailed when he’s within range. Barrios needs to use his advantages and fire off jabs to keep Davis on the back foot. Davis has a decided edge in power and no matter what happens in the fight he can always end it with one punch. If Davis can’t catch Barrios with something solid though it’s going to be along night for him as he could be outworked. Still, I’m expecting Davis to take Barrios’ title when all is said and done.
