By Ian S Palmer
Unbeaten prospect Ryan Garcia of Victorville, California will be taking on undefeated WBA Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis of Baltimore, Maryland in a 12-rounder at a 136 lb catchweight this Saturday, April 22nd. The fight from Las Vegas, Nevada can be seen live in some nations on DAZN while American fans can catch it on Showtime PPV. Garcia last fought in July when he stopped Javier Fortuna in the sixth round while Davis last boxed in July as well when he halted WBA Junior Lightweight Champion Hector Luis Garcia in the ninth round.
The 24-year-old Garcia owns a perfect mark of 23-0 with 19 Ko’s for a current knockout ratio of 82.6 per cent. He stands 5-feet-10-inches tall with a 70-inch reach and possesses tremendous speed and fine boxing skills. He made his pro debut in 2016 and has boxed 85 rounds since. Along the way, he’s also captured the vacant NABF Junior Super Featherweight Title as well as the NABF, and WBO NABO Super Featherweight Crowns.
Garcia’s toughest opponents to date were Luke Campbell, who he stopped in seven rounds after being dropped in the second, and veteran Jayson Velez, who went the distance with him in May, 2018 only to lose a 10-round unanimous decision for the vacant NABF and WBO NABO Super Featherweight Crowns. Garcia’s also beaten the likes of Fortuna, Carlos Morales, Jose Lopez, Braulio Rodriguez, Fernando Vargas Parra and Noe Martinez Raygoza.
Garcia’s being groomed to be a world champion by promoter Oscar De La Hoya and appears to have all the tools necessary to succeed and was named the 2017 prospect of the year by ESPN. He enjoyed a fine amateur career by going 215-15. He won a silver medal at the USA Junior National (Under-17) Championships in 2014 when he lost to Devin Haney in the final. Garcia made the quarterfinals at the USA Youth National (Under-19) Championships in 2015 and lost to Haney once again. However, he did beat Vergil Ortiz in his opening bout. He then won gold at the USA Youth National (Under-19) Championships in 2016.
The 28-year-old ‘Tank’ Davis was a 2012 National Golden Gloves Champion as an amateur and enters the fight with a perfect mark of 28-0 with 26 Ko’s. He’s fought just 123 rounds since turning pro back in 2013 due to his tremendous punching power and his knockouts over Rolando Romero, Leo Santa Cruz, Ricardo Nunez, Jesus Cuellar, Hugo Ruiz, Jose Pedraza and Liam Walsh were all exceptional. The southpaw has the talent and power to be a long-reigning champion if he manages to behave himself outside of the ring.
Davis currently has a knockout ratio of 93 per cent with the only two opponents to take him the distance as a pro being German Meraz when the pair went six rounds in 2014 and Isaac Cruz in December, 2021. However, Davis still managed to drop Meraz in both the third and fifth rounds. Davis stopped Jose Pedraza in the seventh round for the IBF Junior Lightweight (Super Featherweight) Title in January, 2017 and then defended it four months later in England when he stopped Liam Walsh in the third round. His first title reign came to an end in August, 2017 against Francesco Fonseca though when he failed to make weight.
However, he still fought and stopped Fonseca in the eighth round. He then won the WBA Junior Lightweight Belt against Jesus Cuellar in April 2018 and defended it against Hugo Ruiz and Ricardo Nunez. He won the vacant WBA Lightweight Belt in December, 2019 when he stopped Yuriorkis Gamboa in the 12th round and defended it against Leo Santa Cruz a year later with a sixth-round stoppage before moving up in weight to stop Mario Barrios for the WBA Super Lightweight Title which he eventually vacated to move back down to lightweight. Davis stands just over 5-feet-5-inches tall and has a reach of 67.5 inches, so gives up 4.5-inches in height and 2.5-inches in reach to Garcia.
Prediction…
Both boxers have great power and skills but Garcia has been dropped before as Luke Campbell had him down in the second round in 2021, but he picked himself up and responded well. Garcia is younger and has the edge in height and reach but I don’t know if he’s as mentally as tough as Davis. In addition, Davis has faced tougher opposition and this fight comes with a 10 lb rehydration clause. Garcia needs to keep his chin tucked down and utilize his size advantages to be successful. He could take a decision if his chin holds out but I’m giving the edge to Davis here in a tossup.
