THE RESULT: Gervonta “Tank” Davis landed a highlight-reel knockout win after an uppercut, followed by a left hand, flattened Frank Martin in the eighth round of their main event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Davis retains his WBA lightweight title in the process.
KEY MOMENTS: Martin made an encouraging start in the opening three rounds but spent too long on the ropes as the fight wore on, inviting pressure from the champion. The writing was on the wall once Davis found the time and space to corner his opponent.
RECORDS: The unbeaten run of Davis increases to 30-0 (27 KOs). Martin, after the biggest fight of his career, sees his record move to 18-1 (12 KOs).
TALKING POINTS: Davis proved that even with such a prolonged period of absence from the ring he is still one of the most deadly fighters right now in boxing. If he continues to keep himself out of trouble and stay active fighting top opponents then the career of “Tank” could be a special one.
QUOTABLE: “Once he tired himself out I started picking him apart,” Davis said afterwards.
Asked if he felt as thought his rivals can compete with him in the later rounds the champion said, “I don’t know until they get in there with me. I’ve been around for a long time, been training since I was seven-years-old and competing since I was eight. It’s second nature. It’s about staying focused, making sure my mind’s on the goal.”
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum revealed to Boxing News recently that talks were underway for a unification between his lightweight star Vasiliy Lomachenko and Davis (who is represented by Al Haymon). Discussing the future following his win, Davis said: “Most importantly I want to get back to the drawing board, get back in the gym and stay focused. I felt I was a little rusty. All these guys are on my radar.”
The defeated Martin gave his thoughts on the fight to Prime’s Jim Gray as well. “I felt I was in control then got a little too comfortable. I stopped doing my movement and once I stopped doing my movement he could land his shots. He came in, landed a big shot. I didn’t see the shot.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: A lightweight unification between Davis and IBF champion Vasiliy Lomachenko is in the works and may happen later in the year. Martin now needs to show how he bounces back from his first loss and rebuild his way to another title shot.
