Showing posts with label Gervonta Davis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gervonta Davis. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Can Lamont Roach Get A Fair Shake?

The fight between Isaac Cruz and former WBA Jr. Lightweight world champion Lamont Roach on December 6th in San Antonio, TX not only was an encounter between two of the best fighters currently in the sport of Boxing, but also represented Roach’s debut in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. One could also say that Roach was riding a career high after receiving a draw in his previous bout in March with the talented, but troubled Gervonta Davis. In facing Cruz, Roach was in some ways going back into a fire pit by facing a fighter known for his aggression that while not known for the type of knockout power that Davis had, has a non-stop come forward, pressure attack that many fighters including Davis have found difficult to combat. It was also a fight that Roach openly sought after not being able to secure a rematch with Davis.


The question of this fight was both simple and complex. Would Roach be able to deal with a fighter like Cruz who suffocates opponents with pressure and could he do so ten pounds heavier than where he was a world champion in the 130lb. Jr. Featherweight division? It became apparent early on when the two fighters met at the Frost Bank Center that Cruz had every intention of being as difficult a task to combat as he has been for virtually every opponent he has ever faced. 


By applying pressure early, Cruz made it difficult for Roach, a well-rounded boxer/puncher, to find a consistent rhythm by forcing him to stand and fight on the inside, which is not typically the norm for Roach, who uses lateral movement and angles to attack his opponents. This approach for Cruz, the current WBC number one Jr. Welterweight contender, by making it a rough and at times ugly fight, was highlighted in round three when he was credited with a knockdown when a left hook to the jaw knocked Roach off balance where one of his gloves touched the canvas. Although this was the correct call by Referee James Green, it was a cruel irony that the first knockdown of Roach’s career came in a similar manner as when he was not credited with a knockdown when Davis took a knee in the ninth round of their fight back in March of this year. In that instance, however, a knockdown, which would have been the correct call was not made and that error, arguably resulted in that fight being scored a draw and not a victory for Roach as many observers, including this one, felt he deserved. 


Unfortunately for Roach, the irony and the cruelty would not stop with the knockdown here, despite that ruling being correct. From the point in which Roach got up from the knockdown, he gradually got himself into a rhythm by throwing short and consistent combinations that often caught Cruz as he came forward. Often when Cruz did get in close, he clinched and held Roach on the inside. It was such holding that often resembled more grappling on the inside as opposed to what is considered holding to necessitate a separation from the referee or holding when the fighter doing so is hurt and trying to avoid being knocked down or out, that resulted in him being penalized a point for holding excessively in round seven. By that point, however, Roach seemed to have nullified the effects of the knockdown in round three in terms of points as this observer felt, though many of the rounds remained competitive, he took over the tempo of the fight and carried the action for the remainder of the twelve round bout.


At the conclusion of the twelve round fight, I arrived with a 114-111 scorecard in favor of Lamont Roach. A three point margin, but I had Roach winning eight rounds to four. Normally when there is an eight-four margin in a twelve round fight, one usually arrives at a 116-112 scorecard in points. The three point margin rather than a four point margin is a reflection of both the knockdown of Roach in round three, which was scored 10-8 in favor of Isaac Cruz per it being a round where he scored a knockdown, and the point deduction against Cruz in round seven in a round where he was losing the round prior to that penalizing. Without the point being taken from him, he would have lost the round by a score of 10-9. The deduction, however, resulted in a 10-8 score and ultimately how I ended up with a 114-111 final score rather than the standard 116-112 score for an eight rounds to four margin. 


The thorough explanation and analysis of scoring from yours truly is moot in this case as the result of this fight would ultimately be a majority draw with only one judge, having a victor in Cruz on his scorecard. The cruelty for Roach is that this is now the second consecutive fight in less than a year where he was held to a draw in a fight many feel he won. 


The question I have coming out of this fight is Can Lamont Roach get a fair shake, or as several fighters in previous eras have had a label placed on them, has Roach become Boxing’s latest hard luck fighter? A label usually reserved for fighters who either end up with losses against more notable opposition or end up with draws as Roach has now done twice. For his part, Roach did not hide his frustration in a post-fight interview in the ring immediately after the decision was announced calling the verdict quote “Bullshit” and saying he was tired of not getting a fair shake. While this observer does not often display expletives in his writings per professional/journalistic standards, the quote offered by a frustrated fighter in Lamont Roach, who has proven to be one of the best fighters in the sport, despite not getting the victories in these two recent outings that many feel, including yours truly that he deserved, was both blunt and one that many fighters throughout history have expressed at one time or another when on the wrong end of a decision they felt should have gone their way, whether justified in those feelings or not. 


It is hard to not sympathize with a fighter that clearly has the talent and credentials to be one of the top fighters of his era, who feels like they were not given the credit/victory they felt they were due. Unfortunately, the Cruz-Roach bout will also now take its place as the latest in a long line of controversial fights over decades to be held in the state of Texas, which have often revolved around controversial scoring. Whether this decision, like Roach’s bout with Gervonta Davis, which was held in Brooklyn, NY is simply a case of judges, who like the rest of us, are human beings, having a bad night at the office is something that will likely be debated. What is perhaps more troublesome for sanctioning organizations and state and international regulatory boards is if fighters feel that they aren't being treated fairly and that perception slowly spreads amongst fellow fighters and subsequently gains public support, it will become increasingly harder to hold combat sports events and have the credibility that it is truly an even playing field for all combatants where adequate decisions will be rendered. When one also considers the times in which we live where it is all too easy for one, whether they have credibility or not, to air their grievances publicly, such controversies should not be dismissed.


“And That's The Boxing Truth.”


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Monday, December 1, 2025

Cruz-Roach Preview

On Saturday, December 6th, the Boxing world will focus on the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX for a fight, which in all likelihood will have repercussions in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division heading into 2026 and to be specific, with regard to the World Boxing Council (WBC) Jr. Welterweight ratings. This observer is referring to the battle between top contenders Isaac Cruz and Lamont Roach, a fight that will headline a pay-per-view card promoted under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner and streamed in the United States by Prime Video. What makes this an intriguing battle beyond an interesting clash of styles, which alone should draw interest amongst Boxing aficionados is the stakes of this encounter have potentially increased since the time the bout was announced.


First we have the clash of styles between a come forward pressure fighter in Cruz that tries to break his opponents down gradually in the mold of a Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., in that often from the opening bell, he comes forward and tries to apply constant pressure and back his opponent up with a swarming attack to the body and head. In thirty-two professional bouts, Cruz, who will walk into this fight holding an interim championship designation in the WBC Jr. Welterweight ratings, has a record of 28-3-1, with 18 Knockouts.


Standing across the ring from him on December 6th will be Lamont Roach. Roach, a former longtime top contender in the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division, who briefly held a similar interim designation in the WBA’s rankings in that weight class, is a well-rounded boxer/puncher that can do a little of everything, who will enter the fight with a record of 25-1-2, with 10 Knockouts. Despite the contrast in styles, both fighters share a commonality. Both have previously found themselves in decisions that many feel should have gone their way against the same fighter in Gervonta Davis. Some may recall Cruz putting forth a spirited effort against Davis four years and one day from where this fight will take place against Roach, in December 2021. A fight where many believed he deserved the decision based on the pressure and body work he inflicted on Davis over the course of the fight, but ended up losing a close twelve round unanimous decision. 


More recently, Roach found himself on what many considered to be the wrong end of a decision against Davis in March of this year where he appeared to not have what should have been credited as a knockdown in his favor in the ninth round where Davis took a knee and had one of his cornermen wipe his face with a towel before continuing on. This blown call by Referee Steve Willis by not ruling a knockdown against Davis, as should have been the case when a fighter takes a knee for any reason outside of after suffering an illegal blow, is what many point to in resulting in Roach getting a twelve round majority draw as opposed to a victory that many observers including this one, felt he deserved. Obstacles toward a rematch with Davis, coupled with the latter’s choosing to sign to participate in an exhibition with Jake Paul, before ultimately being removed from that endeavor due to accusations of domestic violence against him, have resulted in Roach now facing Cruz.


What this fight comes down to in my eyes is virtually the same question that is asked of all Isaac Cruz opponents. Can Roach find a way to offset the pressure attack that Cruz will be trying to execute? While Cruz is not known for punching power, his knockouts have come from breaking his opponents down and he tries to more or less pin himself onto an opponent's chest where he not only cuts the ring off, but makes it extremely difficult for that fighter to get any breathing room where they can move, let alone find a consistent rhythm.


Although this has proven to be a difficult task to combat for many opponents, Lamont Roach does have good lateral movement, the ability to use angles, and a good mix of hand speed and accuracy when it comes to counter punching. Whether or not he will be able to set traps for Cruz as he comes forward to set up counter punch opportunities and whether he can evade the pressure and body/head attack of Cruz for all twelve rounds remains to be seen. 


The wrinkle that has emerged since this fight was announced that could potentially raise the stakes is while Cruz’ WBC Interim designation will be at stake in the fight, current WBC World Jr. Welterweight champion Subriel Matias, who has a scheduled title defense in January against Dalton Smith in New York, recently tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine during randomized testing conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) while in training for that title defense. As of this writing, the status of both that fight as well as Matias’ standing as WBC world champion in the Jr. Welterweight division is unknown. 


The possibility certainly exists, however, that the WBC could strip Matias of the title per the testing results either before or shortly after the Cruz-Roach fight takes place, which would obviously either elevate this fight to a world title bout or create a situation where the winner of it will be named world champion and possibly be mandated to fight Dalton Smith in 2026 assuming that Matias would not be permitted to fight due to possible suspension both by the WBC as well as the Association of Boxing Commissions that has both state and international membership due to the failed test.


Either way one chooses to look at this situation, the stakes are high for both Cruz and Roach regardless of a world title is on the line here as regardless, the winner will be in a position for potential lucrative fights going into 2026 and even though world championships still mean something and will always hold value in the sport, the possibility for more lucrative paydays often man as much or more than the championships themselves. Which fighter will find himself in such a position remains to be seen.


“And That's The Boxing Truth.”


Cruz vs. Roach takes place on Saturday, December 6th at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX. The fight as well as its undercard can be seen in the United States on Prime Video Pay-Per-View beginning at 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT with free preliminary bouts with the pay-per-view portion beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT for $79.95. To order this pay-per-view event download the Prime Video app on mobile, tablet, or connected streaming devices and smart TVs and find Premier Boxing Champions in the Sports section or click the following link : PBC: Cruz vs. Roach


(*Card And Start Times Subject To Change.”


(*Check your local listings and Prime Video for availability and pricing internationally.*)


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Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Paul-Davis Cancelled

Press Release: November 3 , 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions - Most Valuable Promotions and Netflix have announced that Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis, originally scheduled for Friday, November 14 at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, will no longer be moving forward.



“Our team has worked closely with all parties to navigate this situation responsibly,” said Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions. “While we will not be moving forward with this event, our plan still remains for Jake Paul to headline an event on Netflix in 2025. Details regarding a new date, location, Jake’s opponent, and additional bouts will be shared as soon as they are finalized. We thank Netflix, the Kaseya Center, and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for their partnership.”



Most Valuable Promotions appreciates the continued support and understanding of our athletes, partners, sponsors, and fans as we work to finalize updated event plans.



Fans who purchased tickets via Ticketmaster for the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis event will get an automatic refund through their original point of purchase within 14-21 days. Fans who purchased through secondary markets should contact them. For ticket assistance, please contact Ticketoffice@heat.com.



MVP thanks everyone for their patience and looks forward to delivering an extraordinary boxing event in 2025, live globally only on Netflix.


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Sunday, November 2, 2025

Official Statement From Most Valuable Promotions Regarding Status Of Paul-Davis

Press Release: November , 2025 By Most Valuable Promotions -  

Credit:Most Valuable Promotions 

Material Courtesy of:Most Valuable Promotions Used with permission.



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Monday, March 3, 2025

Will We See A Davis-Roach Rematch?


In recent years, the term “Pay-Per-View Star" has lost some of its value due to the pay-per-view model being one that is overpriced and over used even as subscription-based streaming has offered better value for consumers and generally produces higher viewership numbers than those events that are reserved for pay-per-view. There are, however, some exceptions or at least some fighters that a portion of Boxing fans will argue are worthy of the label “Pay-Per-View Star" even as the model is a dying medium. One such fighter is Gervonta Davis.

Davis, a fighter who has competed in three weight classes ranging from the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division up to the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division is known for producing knockouts that are the type that come suddenly and are often brutal. Along the way, Davis has won world titles in the Jr. Lightweight and Lightweight divisions, while for a time holding Interim/Regular champion status in the Jr. Welterweight division. As the current WBA World Lightweight champion, few fighters have been able to withstand Davis’ punching power and compete effectively. Unbeaten in thirty professional fights, with twenty-eight of those wins coming via knockout registering a career knockout percentage of over 90%, Davis climbed into the ring at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY to face current WBA Jr. Lightweight world champion Lamont Roach on March 1st in the main event of the latest pay-per-view offering on Prime Video promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions group of promoters.

Despite the fact that this was a fight between two current world champions, with a past history having fought twice in 2011 as amateurs, there were some who felt this encounter would be another note on Davis’ extensive record of knockout wins. Perhaps the perception of that beyond the track record that Davis has was rooted in the fact that Roach, who entered the fight with a record of 25-1-1, with 10 Knockouts, was not only moving up five pounds to challenge Davis for his world title, but was not known for his punching power. While their meetings as amateurs should not have been used as a way to attempt to measure what might happen when they faced off due to the fact that both were kids at the time, Davis did win both bouts via close decisions, which context aside, could have also led to the perception that Roach would be a footnote on Davis’ record. Although in recent times Davis has become known as a fighter that starts slow and gradually picks up his pace as a fight progresses, it did not take Roach long to establish that whatever perception a fan might have had of his chances going into this fight may have been misjudged. 

Roach did this by applying tactical pressure on Davis early in the fight. While both fighters did not throw many punches through several of the early rounds, which resulted in a bout fought at an extremely measured pace, what was noticeable was Roach’s ability to gradually walk Davis backward. Despite neither fighter being able to establish a clear offensive output from the other and seemingly matching each other punch for punch, it was the challenger’s calculated approach that gave an impression that he may have had the upper hand, albeit slightly through the first six rounds of the fight. 

Although it was not the most entertaining of fights for those who are looking for action, the level of competition between the two fighters is something that should not be ignored. Through the first six rounds, I felt Roach was ahead by a round, however, this observer has been around long enough and has certainly covered enough close fights in just about every scenario one could name in three decades to know that how I might be seeing things could be reversed for someone else or might be a little wider as well, in particular, how the three official judges might be see things. 

Though Roach being able to be tactical and largely nullify the pace in which the combat was being fought was the most noticeable thing through the first half of the fight, the champion subtly began landing hard, thudding punches when he did let his hands go, which can leave just as much an impression on those scoring a fight as who might be dictating how a fight is being fought. The seventh round saw the beginning of a change in the pace of the fight as the challenger Roach seemed willing to stand and try to trade power punches with Davis. In that if Davis landed solidly on Roach, Roach would respond by trying to not only land punches that were as solid as the ones the champion was landing, but would try doing so in combination. 

As the action began to heat up, an element of controversy would occur in the ninth round when Davis seemed to turn his back and take a knee. Under most circumstances, this would result in a knockdown being ruled against the fighter that took a knee. Referee Steve Willis would frankly blow the call and while he did admonish Davis and warn him that what he had done constituted a knockdown, he did not score one in favor of Roach. While in fairness, I did not see a punch land on Davis prior to him taking a knee, Willis’ decision to not call it a knockdown, which it should have been outside of something illegal like a low blow landing, would prove to be crucial even as the tempo of the fight had changed and we saw more heated exchanges between the two fighters.

What stood out as the fight entered the championship rounds was not so much that the tempo had switched from measured and tactical, to tactical yet with heated exchanges, was Roach’s willingness to play with fire and exchange with Davis, but more specifically seemingly getting the better of the action particularly when he was able to land with his right hand, often in a counter punch sequence. Going into the twelfth round, I felt the fight was close, but had Roach narrowly edging Davis, just as I had at the halfway point at the conclusion of round six. Roach seemed to get the better of the action in the final round leading me to have a seven rounds to five or 115-113 in points scorecard in his favor. Ultimately, one official judge had a seven rounds to five margin in favor of Davis, while the two remaining judges turned in identical deadlocked scorecards of six rounds to six or 114-114 in points resulting in a majority draw.

Just how crucial the first six rounds were in terms of who had the upper hand when the two fighters were matching each other punch for punch, but more specifically Steve Willis’ decision as the referee to not rule a knockdown against Davis will be heavily debated as to whether that decision cost Lamont Roach a victory and his second world title in this fight. If the knee Davis took in the ninth round had been scored correctly as a knockdown, it is logical to think that it would have been the difference maker on the two scorecards that resulted in a draw in turning what was a draw into a majority decision win for Roach as it would have been scored s 10-8 round due to the knockdown and not a 10-9 round, which though still resulting in a narrow score margin, would have determined a winner.

It is clear coming out of this fight that some decisions will have to be made. One, will Roach, who is still the WBA’s Jr. Lightweight world champion, choose to move back down in weight to defend his title or will he choose to remain at Lightweight. Two, will Davis, who was talking about retirement before this fight, indeed move in the direction or continue on with his career. While it is still to be determined as to how successful this fight proved to be as a pay-per-view attraction with a $79.95 price point, given what happened in the ring and the fact that for the first time since he fought Isaac Cruz in December 2021 that there was legitimate doubt as to the outcome and the fact that this turned out to be a draw and not a win for Davis, with the impression being left that it was Lamont Roach, who saw his stock go up, we should see a rematch. Whether we will and whether it comes in a timely manner as some other rematches have in the recent history of the sport remains to be seen. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Sunday, February 23, 2025

Davis-Roach Pay-Per-View Card Now Available For Preorder On Prime Video

The March 1st  Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view card headlined by undefeated WBA World Lightweight champion Gervonta Davis defending his title against current WBA Jr. Lightweight world champion Lamont Roach is now available for preorder on Prime Video for $79.95. The fight, which will headline a night of Boxing from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY can be purchased by visiting the Prime Video app on your streaming device of choice or by the following link Davis vs. Roach.


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Saturday, February 15, 2025

Gloves Off: Davis-Roach Now Streaming On Prime Video

Credit: Prime Video 





Press Release: February 15, 2025 By NEW YORK—February 14, 2025— Today, Prime Video announced the release of Gloves Off: Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr., the sixth installment of the compelling docuseries. This two-part series delves into the preparation for the anticipated 12-round lightweight world championship bout set for Saturday, March 1 at Barclays Center.


Boxing superstar and reigning WBA Lightweight World Champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) will defend his title against WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Lamont Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs) in the main event of a stacked PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video card. The 30-year-old Davis from Baltimore and 29-year-old Roach from Washington, D.C., previously met as amateurs and now face off for Tank's World Lightweight belt.


 


Narrated by Barry Pepper, the program takes fans beyond the ring, blending footage of the fighters' lives, families, and training camp activities as excitement builds for this prime-time encounter in Brooklyn.


Material, Photo, and Trailer Courtesy of: Prime Video Used with permission. 


For more information about Prime Video please visit: www.PrimeVideo.com 

 


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Wednesday, July 3, 2024

Stevenson Looks To Make Successful First Defense Of Lightweight Crown

 

With the departure of former Undisputed Lightweight world champion Devin Haney, the period of transition in the 135lb. Lightweight division continues with several world champions in the division looking to make their claim as being the best Lightweight in the world. In recent times both Vasyl Lomachenko and Gervonta Davis have made their respective arguments. Lomachenko emerged as a unified world champion in the division on May 12th with an eleventh round stoppage of IBO world champion George Kambosos in Kambosos’ home country of Australia. Along with the IBO world championship, Lomachenko also gained the vacant IBF crown, emerging as a unified world champion, and in many ways, by default, because he became a unified world champion, became the fighter that all top contenders, other world champions, and would be prospects look to target for a potential fight. The vacant WBO world championship would be decided on May 18th when undefeated top contender Denys Berinchyk scored what many felt was an upset in scoring a twelve round split decision over the heavily favored former three-division world champion Emanuel Navarrete in San Diego, CA.


This was followed by Gervonta Davis, who was recently elevated to world champion in the WBA Lightweight ratings, making a successful first defense of his piece of the World Lightweight championship with a brutal eighth round knockout of previously unbeaten top contender Frank Martin in Las Vegas, NV on June 15th. A fight and Davis appeared to be losing, only for the champion to graciously walk his opponent down and end matters with a brutal right uppercut, left him combination. As much of a statement as that knockout was by Davis, there is one more world champion in the Lightweight division that is awaiting his chance to make his claim as being the best Lightweight in the world. 


Yours truly is referring to undefeated three-division world champion Shakur Stevenson, who is the current holder of the WBC World Lightweight championship. Stevenson won the then vacant WBC crown with a twelve round unanimous decision over Edwin De Los Santos in November of last year. While Stevenson did what he had to do in that fight to win a world championship in his third weight class, it was not a crowd-pleasing performance by Stevenson who tends to be underappreciated by some for his overall skillset and his ability to box rather than engaging in a more toe to toe battle with his opponents.


Following the success of Lomachenko, Berinchyk, and Davis, Stevenson will now look to make the first defense of his WBC crown on July 6th as he will face current WBC number seven Lightweight contender Artem Harutyunyan at the Prudential Center in Stevenson’s hometown of Newark, NJ. A world championship bout that can be seen on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+.


While this fight has all the appearance of a homecoming for the champion in a venue that he has fought three times previously in his career, what does the challenger bring with him into this fight? Artem Harutyunyan has had thirteen professional fights and has only one defeat. Some might argue that the setback for the Armenian-born, German-based Harutyunyan came in his only opportunity to date to step up in the caliber of opposition in terms of world level. The defeat came in losing a twelve round unanimous decision to Frank Martin in July of last year, which was coincidentally Harutyunyan’s last fight. 


The effort he showed in that fight however, in what was a close and competitive contest, along with his having won titles on the regional level of the sport including titles affiliated with the World Boxing Council (WBC), earned him the number seven ranking in their Lightweight ratings. While Harutyunyan does have a limited resume in terms of facing world-rated opposition, he has scored knockouts in seven of his twelve victories, albeit against largely unknown opposition.


Nevertheless, the challenger faces a significant uphill battle against Stevenson. The onus is on Harutyunyan to show what he can do and show that this is a more serious fight than some are anticipating. 


The old adage of styles make fights almost always applies to just about any fight, but the adage that this observer is often quoted as saying should also apply. “Boxing Is A Sport Of Opportunity." While just about every attribute one could measure seems to be in favor of the champion Stevenson, from overall experience on the world championship level to style in being elusive, to hand speed, sometimes all a fighter wants is an opportunity. There is always the possibility for a challenger, a significant underdog, to pull off a surprise, despite what logic and statistics might suggest. Whether Artem Harutyunyan can do that remains to be seen as does whether Stevenson can make a convincing argument for himself as the number one fighter amidst the latest refresh of the Lightweight division. 


“And That's The Boxing Truth." 


Stevenson vs. Harutyunyan takes place on Saturday, July 6th at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. The fight and its full undercard can be seen in the United States on digital subscription sports streaming network ESPN+ beginning at 6PM ET/3PM PT. For more information about ESPN+ including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, and to subscribe please visit: www.ESPNPlus.com


(*Card and Start Time Subject To Change*)


(*Check your local listings Internationally*)


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Monday, June 17, 2024

Punching Power Saves The Day For Davis

On June 15th the Boxing world focused it's attention on the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV where undefeated WBA Lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis made his first defense of the title since being named world champion following former undisputed world champion Devin Haney relinquishing his crown to move up in weight, against undefeated WBA number two rated Lightweight contender Frank Martin. While this observer would like to paint a picture of this fight being simply about an unbeaten world champion meeting an unbeaten challenger, as there always seems to be in Boxing, there ended up being more to the story. 


In this case, in the days leading up to the fight, there was a situation that emerged that frankly took attention away from the fight. Yours truly is referring to a situation that led to the dismissal of Leonard Ellerbe, longtime CEO of Floyd Mayweather’s Mayweather Promotions, who promote both Davis and Martin under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner as in the days leading up to the twelve round world championship bout at a pre-fight press conference Ellerbe seemingly did everything to discredit Martin as a challenger to Davis rather than promoting the fight, which was the main event of the latest PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View offering. Shortly after that press conference, news broke that Ellerbe had been dismissed and former CEO of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer now being designated as the man who will take over the duties for Mayweather Promotions. Although this was the latest in a series of struggles of the Premier Boxing Champions group of promoters, the blunder while taking attention away from the fight and card as a whole for a time, did not overshadow this event. With the situation regarding Ellerbe and Mayweather seemingly in the rearview for the time being, it was time for Davis and Martin to meet inside the ring. 


What stood out immediately was the challenger’s ability to use angles to offset the pressure of Davis. This in addition to Martin's ability to land precise counter punches and beat Davis to the punch is what carried the fight for most of the first five rounds. Although it seemed clear that Frank Martin was gradually compiling a lead on the official scorecards and it was approaching a point where it would be difficult for the champion to dig himself out of a hole if he needed to win a decision to retain his title, Davis never ceased applying constant pressure and gradually walking Martin back both against the ropes and in corners of the ring. While it is indisputable that Gervonta Davis is the type of fighter that has the type of punching power that can and often does end fights suddenly if he connects flush, I wondered as I watched the fight whether that asset, as valuable as it is for those who are blessed to have it, would end up working against Davis against a fighter that clearly had a fight plan and was tactically Boxing him with seemingly significant success.


This was because as the fight progressed, not only was Davis’ face gradually swelling from the effects of Martin's jab, short combinations, and catching the champion with counter punches that briefly stopped him in his tracks, but Davis was seemingly putting everything he had behind every punch he threw, was made to miss with a good portion of those punches, and was visibly becoming frustrated. Despite this, Davis maintained his approach and in the eighth round would finally catch up with the elusive boxer Martin.


As he had been doing for virtually the entire fight, Davis stalked and gradually cornered Martin. Despite Martin appearing comfortable throughout the bout in being willing to stand in corners or on the ropes while Davis came forward, rather than trying to move and evade the champion, it was such willingness that would prove to be a costly mistake. Davis connected with a brutal right uppercut followed by a left hook to the jaw that sent Martin down and out on the canvas. The champion had retained his title in devastating fashion.


At the end of the day, Gervonta Davis’ power saved the day and he was able to get the job done. An obvious question that should be asked coming out of this fight is should there be concerns moving forward? In that, Davis had the punching power to bail him out of what was looking to potentially be a fight that he was losing on the scorecards. While no one can take anything away from Davis as he was blessed with punching power and did what he had to do, the danger for fighters who have such God given talents such as punching power is they tend to rely strictly on power to get them through and though it might work for a period of time, it also can serve as somewhat of a blueprint for future opponents that could study what Frank Martin was able to do in this fight for example and try to implement elements of that strategy into their own approach. A fighter such as recently crowned IBF/IBO Lightweight world champion Vasyl Lomachenko, who is a possible target for Davis later this year, is a master boxer, who has immaculate footwork and ability to use angles, in addition to having quick hands and punching power of his own. 


If a fight between Lomachenko and Davis is indeed next for both, the concern for Davis should be to try and find a way to implement an approach that will have an emphasis on winning rounds as opposed to relying strictly on his punching power to get the job done. Vasyl Lomachenko is among the most tactical fighters in the entire sport and there is little doubt that he will try to implement an approach with an emphasis on angles as well as avoiding the power Davis has. Although laying out such a strategy is easier than attempting to execute one in the midst of battle, Davis should prepare for the possibility that his power may not be all he needs to win moving forward, regardless of whether Vasyl Lomachenko will be the next opponent standing across the ring from him. 


“And That's The Boxing Truth.”


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Wednesday, June 12, 2024

Davis-Martin Preview

In April of last year two-division world champion Gervonta Davis squared off with top contender Ryan Garcia in a highly anticipated clash of undefeated rising stars of the sport of Boxing. The encounter, which was held at a catchweight, was won by Davis, who knocked Garcia out with a body shot in the seventh round.


Although per the catchweight stipulation and the fact that at the time Davis held Interim/Regular status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Lightweight ratings, no world championship was on the line, it was nevertheless one of the biggest events on the Boxing calendar last year, despite the pay-per-view broadcast being riddled with problems resulting in significant refunds being issued to consumers.


The obvious flaws of the pay-per-view model and this observer’s long-standing criticisms on the subject notwithstanding, there is no dispute that the victory over Garcia was a milestone moment in Davis’ career. Like many other fighters in recent times however, Davis, who has long been aligned with the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters, has seen his career stall as he has not been in the ring in active competition since. 


What has also become a recurring theme of yours truly recently has been the subject of how inactivity often does more harm to fighters than it serves as a benefit. Whether Davis will find his name on the list of fighters who are or were previously aligned with the struggling PBC promotional banner to have suffered setbacks upon returning to action following a lengthy hiatus remains to be seen as Davis, who was recently elevated to WBA World Lightweight champion, following former undisputed champion Devin Haney vacating the championship and moving up to the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division at the end of last year, will defend his title on June 15th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV against undefeated WBA number two Lightweight contender Frank Martin in a fight that will headline a PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View card. 


This fight for Davis not only represents the second consecutive time that he will be facing an unbeaten opponent, but also presents a unique scenario that is rare and not good under any way one views the circumstances. In that like Davis, Martin, who is also aligned with the PBC, is also coming off of a layoff of nearly a year, whereas the champion will have been inactive for nearly fifteen months by the time this fight takes place. While this is a reflection of both the position the PBC is in having lost their longtime broadcast deal with the now defunct Showtime Sports, which ceased operations at the end of last year as part of a significant restructuring of its parent company Paramount Global, and the fact that since beginning their deal with Prime Video in March of this year, the PBC has only ran two events, both pay-per-view offerings, it is not often that two fighters find themselves in essentially the same position in terms of coming off of a lengthy stretch of inactivity. 


In this case, one might wonder what type of fight we might see given the circumstances of both fighters having to possibly deal with the elements of “Ring Rust." At his best, Gervonta Davis can be an explosive power puncher that is capable of ending a fight suddenly. Although he has also shown an ability to use his Boxing skills rather than power to win fights in his career, Davis has scored knockouts in twenty-seven of his twenty-nine career wins, registering a career knockout percentage of nearly 94%.


This would serve as at minimum a statistical indication that Davis will be the favorite going into this fight as well as having more experience than the challenger, who will enter the bout with eighteen wins, with twelve knockouts. Frank Martin has also shown an ability to get an opponent out of there if given an opportunity, but conventional wisdom might suggest that his best opportunity to win this fight will be by trying to box Davis as opposed to getting into a scenario where he has to trade punches with the champion. A task that might be easier said than done, but if Martin is able to find success by implementing such a strategy, he must not get complacent and remember that he needs to box for the full twelve round distance and not give Davis any openings. 


There have been times where previous opponents have had success by using lateral movement to try and box Davis. Thus far, no one has successfully made it to the finish line with that approach as more often than not Davis, who tends to apply pressure and walk his opponents down, has been able to catch them and knock them out. Only two fighters, German Meraz and Isaac Cruz have been able to take Davis the distance in his career. In the case of Cruz, he was able to have success by trying to back Davis up and by going to the body. There are also some who believe Cruz deserved the decision against Davis.


The fight plan for the champion going into this encounter is likely to be the same as virtually all his fights. Apply pressure from the opening bell, try to cut off the ring to limit Martin’s ability to move, and break him down with punching power. A danger that all fighters that become known for their power need to try to avoid is the temptation to become reliant strictly on that power. In that it becomes tempting for a fighter, who knows what they can do with their power if they can land solidly, simply tries to land a fight ending blow with every punch they throw, rather than looking for ways to set up opportunities to land those punches, or trying to win rounds in order to win a decision if needed. Fortunately for Davis, he has not seemed to fall into that trap thus far in his career, but the danger is always there and it will be interesting to see if he falls into such a scenario, particularly if Martin is able to find success and put rounds in the bank early. 


There simply is not much else to say as this fight approaches. Two fighters coming off significant inactivity, both unbeaten, with one's World Lightweight championship on the line. If both fighters manage to bring their best into the ring with them and the element of possible “Ring Rust" turns out to not be an issue for either fighter, this could be a fun fight to watch. 



“And That's The Boxing Truth." 


Davis vs. Martin takes place on Saturday, June 15th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen on a pay-per-view basis on PBC  on Prime Video Pay-Per-View for $74.95. The card will begin at 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT with free preliminary bouts before the main pay-per-view card begins at 8PM ET/5PM PT. 


Prime Video is available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/Smart TVs. To order Davis vs. Martin click the Premier Boxing Champions tab in the sports section within the Prime Video app on your device of choice or click the following link: Davis vs. Martin.


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Tuesday, June 11, 2024

Davis-Martin Now Available For Preorder On Prime Video

The June 15th pay-per-view card headlined by WBA World Lightweight champion Gervonta Davis and WBA number two rated contender Frank Martin is now available for preorder on Prime Video for $74.95. The card, which will be taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, will begin at 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT with free preliminary bouts followed by the main pay-per-view card beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT. Prime Video is available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. To order Davis vs. Martin browse the Premier Boxing Champions tab in the sports section within the Prime Video app or click the following link: Davis vs. Martin.


We will have a preview of Davis vs. Martin here on The Boxing Truth®️ on Wednesday, June 12th. Stay tuned.


“And That's The Boxing Truth." 



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Saturday, June 8, 2024

Gloves Off: Davis-Martin/Benavidez-Gvozdyk Streaming Now On Prime Video

Press Release: June 8, 2024 By Prime Video - NEW YORK—June 7, 2024—Today, Prime Video announced the release of Gloves Off: Davis vs Martin | Benavidez vs Gvozdy, the third edition of the compelling behind-the-scenes presentation, Gloves Off.  As momentum builds for an extraordinary night of boxing on June 15—and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas celebrates its historic 100th fight night—this two-part edition of Gloves Off will take viewers into the lives of the ring warriors set to compete in two eagerly-anticipated co-main events on the PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video presentation. Narrated by Barry Pepper, the program takes fans far beyond the ring. The series blends footage and stories of the fighters’ lives, families, training camp team members and training camp activity as the build-up increases for the Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs. Frank “The Ghost” Martin and David  “El Monstro”Benavidez vs. Oleksandr “The Nail” Gvozdyk World Title Fights.


 


Squaring off in separate attractions, Davis and Benavidez have earned their standing among the finest boxers on the world stage. Davis is set to defend his WBA Lightweight World Championship while Benavidez, a Super Middleweight Champion, moves up to 175 pounds to fight for the first time ever at Light Heavyweight. Davis and Benavidez combined are 57-0 with 51 KOs as pros but they face formidable challenges from unbeaten top contender Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) and  former world champion Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) respectively on a night of high-stakes championship clashes.


 


Material and Photo Courtesy of: Prime Video  Used with permission.



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Friday, December 8, 2023

Garcia Bounces Back With KO Win , But Do More Questions Remain?

The fight between Jr. Welterweight contender Ryan Garcia and contender Oscar Duarte on December 2nd should have represented a fresh start and the beginning of a new chapter in Garcia's career as he looked to bounce back from the first loss of his career earlier this year to Gervonta Davis. Instead, much of the attention prior to the bout, which took place at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX, did not center on the fight itself or what Duarte brought to the table as an opponent and possible threat to Garcia, but rather on what at best can be described as a contentious relationship between Garcia and his promoter Oscar De La Hoya and by extension his promotional company Golden Boy Promotions


It is true that this fight took place under a condition in which this observer cannot recall seeing before, or at least not in this form. In that the bout took place while the fighter Garcia, and the promoter De La Hoya, are engaged in a legal battle against each other in an effort by Garcia to break his existing contract with his promoter. The idea of a promoter and fighter being at odds however, is not a new concept. The idea that a fight promoted by a promoter currently battling the star attraction in said fight while litigation is ongoing is a bit different. 


At minimum, as this observer pointed out in previewing this fight, it had to create distractions for Garcia as well as a situation for De La Hoya, where the pressing question during fight week was not concerning the fight inside the Boxing ring, but concerned his feelings toward his fighter. The contention between the two going into fight week spilled over as both Garcia and De La Hoya traded verbal barbs during the pre-fight press conference and weigh-in.


Seeing the situation play out for the world to see, one would be logical to question why the fighter would agree to participate in a fight promoted by someone that he is trying to distance himself from and why the promoter would want to promote a fight with that fighter, while litigation is ongoing. Truly, something that could only happen in Boxing, or at least that's how it seems. One would also be justified in questioning why something like that would be done before a resolution has taken place between the parties as more than likely anything either fighter or promoter said prior to the bout actually taking place, would likely be used against each other or at least be attempted to in any upcoming legal proceedings.


While what I have described here dear reader, probably sounds more appropriate for a reality TV show, there was still the matter of actual battle inside the ring. The fight between Garcia and Durate took place before a capacity crowd. If nothing else, it demonstrated, despite Garcia's knockout loss to Davis and the very ugly saga between himself and De La Hoya, Garcia is still a rising star in the sport. 


As for the fight itself, under new trainer Derrick James, Garcia showed new elements of his skillset that has not been seen before. A more technical approach with an emphasis on using both his jab and lateral movement against the constant pressure of Duarte, who only knew one direction, forward. Perhaps in response to what happened to him when he was knocked out by Gervonta Davis, when forced to fight on the inside with Duarte where the possibility of being caught with a body shot, like the one that did him in against Davis, was increased, Garcia appeared to turn sideways, some may say partially turn his back. While such an approach borders on the line of legal and illegal, it was for better or worse an effective strategy. It did not, however, endear Garcia to the crowd in attendance, who frequently voiced their criticism via booing throughout the bout. Furthermore, it also created a scenario where Referee James Green frequently interjected himself throughout the fight to issue warnings, which were mostly pointed in the direction of Duarte for hitting Garcia in the back. 


Although I felt Garcia was doing enough to win most of the rounds as the fight progressed, the aggressiveness of Duarte was such that I felt it could sway opinion in his favor simply because of the perception that he was the fighter forcing the action. The question I was also pondering in my mind was whether the high pace in which the fight was fought would take a toll on Garcia later in the fight due not only to Duarte’s pressure and solid punches when he was able to connect, but more specifically the constant movement that he was having to do throughout. 


As the fight continued, I also felt that Duarte’s pressure was effective, but what was also noticeable was the lack of head movement as he came forward in that he was having to go through significant offense from Garcia before he could get on the inside, which he was unable to avoid. This flaw in Duarte’s defense would ultimately lead to his downfall in the eighth round when Garcia was able to catch him with a short left hook to the head, which wobbled his legs and subsequently led to a knockdown from a short flurry of blows. Although Duarte seemed to get up at the count of nine, he was in fact counted out by Referee James Green, giving Garcia an impressive and hard fought knockout win.


Ultimately, this fight did what it was designed to do if you were a member of both Garcia’s camp or his current promoter Golden Boy Promotions. Get Garcia back in the win column. The fact that Garcia was able to do so impressively is an added bonus. Inevitably, there will continue to be questions and criticism of Garcia. Questions such as is he truly recovered from the knockout at the hands of Davis, more so mentally than physically? Is Garcia listening to too many folks in terms of advising him on his career and is that influence at the root of his ongoing problems with Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions? And finally, will he be able to stay on track both inside the ring as well as out of it to stay a viable contender with the hope of eventually fighting for a world championship?


These are all interesting questions that this observer cannot answer. Much as has been the case for numerous young fighters throughout the history of the sport however, there is no shortage of people who are more than willing to tell a fighter what they want to hear and will also offer no shortage of ideas that may not truly have the fighter’s best interest at heart. For the fighter, especially one who has been open as Garcia has regarding struggles with his mental health, it can be difficult to tell the difference between those willing to tell them what they want to hear and those telling them what they need to hear. Even if the latter is not always easy to hear.


“And That's The Boxing Truth."


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Wednesday, November 29, 2023

The Rebuilding Of Ryan Garcia

It may seem like a cliche for some and a subject that gets discussed in several different variations, but for most fighters, a career can be divided into chapters or stages. If the premise of the opening of this column sounds familiar, dear reader, and sounds like something this observer has said before, it's because it is probably true. Nevertheless, for the purposes of this column, the stages that we will focus on are “The Rise" and “The Rebuild."


First, “The Rise." The rise of current Jr. Welterweight contender Ryan Garcia was one that did not see him win a world championship, but did see him placed on what seemingly was a fast-track towards that eventual goal. In some ways, it was a similar rise at least in terms of the popularity Garcia was able to garner as his longtime promoter Oscar De La Hoya enjoyed during his days as a young fighter before he went on to win many world championships in multiple divisions in what became a Hall of Fame career.


Perhaps because of the differences in eras and the advent of both social media platforms and video streaming sites like YouTube, Garcia’s popularity seemingly skyrocketed to the level of near superstar status before he became a contender as a Lightweight before eventually moving up to the Jr. Welterweight division. The difference in the way Garcia built his fan base notwithstanding, he did amass an impressive and undefeated record on his rise and also showed that he could get up when knocked down as he did in his 2021 battle against  former world title challenger Luke Campbell. A fight that Garcia got up off the canvas to score a knockout win, in what to that point was a career-defining moment for him.


While it may have appeared that Garcia's rise was smooth and without bumps in the road, he saw his progress stalled shortly after his victory over Campbell as he took time away from his career to address ongoing struggles with his mental health. A subject that he has been very open about and should be commended for. Nevertheless, the time away from active competition did stall the momentum he appeared to have built for himself. After a lopsided, but less than dominant performance over former world champion Emmanuel Tagoe in his first fight in over a year following his victory over Campbell, Garcia scored a knockout win over Javier Fortuna in July of last year, which set up what was a highly anticipated bout between himself and fellow undefeated star Gervonta Davis.


When the two met in April of this year, the fight was competitive for a time, but it would be Davis who would emerge victorious, dropping Garcia with a body shot in the seventh round where Garcia,on one knee, stayed down for the ten count. The defeat signaled the first loss of Garcia's career and thus ended the stage of his career known as “The Rise."


Now, dear reader, we come to a stage almost all fighters come to at some point in their careers. “The Rebuild.”


First, before we can talk about “The Rebuild," we need to talk about “The Defeat," or to be more specific, what led to it. Was Gervonta Davis simply the better fighter on that particular evening when he and Garcia shared the ring, or was there another reason for the outcome? 


For his part, Garcia has claimed that a rehydration clause in the contract for his fight with Davis in some way hindered his performance. This observer will not waste time trying to prove or disprove that claim because ultimately, the only one who really knows is Ryan Garcia himself. What I can say is having seen the knockout, Garcia was hit with what by all accounts appeared to be a perfectly placed body shot. 


As is the case when it comes to body punches, it is not always how hard the punch lands, but the position where it lands that often determines how much damage is done. Because the body is one of the more sensitive parts of the human anatomy, often when a punch lands to the body in a perfect spot, it causes a delayed reaction from the fighter on the receiving end and simply not only saps the fighter of whatever energy they might have as well as affect their ability to breathe, but more specifically, it takes the fighter's legs away from them where more often than not, it becomes very difficult for the fighter to get up from a knockdown resulting in a scenario like the one Garcia found himself in where he watched himself be counted out.


Obviously, there have been those who have taken a more cynical viewpoint of what happened to Garcia in that fight and feel that he quit when faced with an adverse circumstance. It should be pointed out however, that Garcia did get up off the canvas to knockout Luke Campbell, ironically with a body shot similar to the one that Davis knocked him out with. Whatever the case might be, if nothing else, the way those two fights ended should serve as an illustration to all fighters on the benefits of a consistent body attack as well as the obvious dangers taking body punches presents.


While the memories of what happened to him against Davis are likely to stay with him for a time, now Garcia must focus on the task of trying to bounce back. A process that is simply known as ”The Rebuild.” Step one in that process in terms of competition will take place on December 2nd in Houston, TX at the Toyota Center when Garcia returns to the ring and the Jr. Welterweight division when he faces contender Oscar Duarte in a twelve round bout that can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN.


The question I have going into this fight centers on Garcia and whether or not he is prepared mentally. For any fighter looking to bounce back from a loss there is a mental block that the fighter has to deal with that is not always easy to overcome. In this case, Garcia is not only coming off of the first loss of his career, but also the first time he was knocked out. There are also the distractions that are a factor going into this fight. Shortly after his loss to Davis, Garcia cut his ties to trainer Joe Goosen and took on a different opponent in his promoter Oscar De La Hoya in an attempt to free himself from his promotional agreement.


Thus far, De La Hoya remains Garcia’s promoter, but the fact that there was and may still be an ongoing litigation between the two has to be at least on some level a distraction unless things have been resolved behind closed doors and simply not made public as of yet. At minimum, it suggests a less than friendly relationship between fighter and promoter. It was however, not long ago that Garcia was viewed as one of the hottest rising stars under De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions so one would think that it would be in the best interest of both to unite in an attempt to get Garcia back on track. 


In terms of his corner, Garcia will be working with his third trainer in a handful of fights by bringing in the highly regarded Derrick James, trainer of former unified Welterweight world champion Errol Spence among others. A criticism that some fighters deal with that ironically Oscar De La Hoya dealt with during his in ring career is by going to several different trainers over the course of a career, it can have a negative impact on a fighter’s style as well as strategies going into a fight. Although there was a mix of good and bad throughout De La Hoya’s career as he was guided by numerous trainers, many of whom are Hall of Famers, the counter argument is by opening yourself up to different philosophies that a new trainer/coach brings with them, it may allow a fighter to see things from a different perspective as well as improve in various areas in terms of technique. Whether or not the addition of James to his corner will be beneficial is something that remains to be seen, but it should also be noted that it is not uncommon for a fighter to switch trainers after suffering a loss.


Garcia's opponent on December 2nd in Oscar Duarte is a fighter with a respectable record of 26-1-1, with 21 Knockouts. A criticism that has surrounded this fight at least in the eyes of some is that Duarte has not defeated a notable fighter on his way to compiling that record. What Duarte does have going for him is he has been unbeaten since 2019 and his lone defeat to a fighter named Adrian Estrella was a ten round split decision loss. Since then, Duarte has run off eleven straight wins, all by knockout. While his resume might lack notable names, that is a statistic that should be viewed with a serious mindset by Garcia and those in his camp.


Garcia is coming off of a knockout loss and the fight plan for Duarte will likely center on trying to test Garcia early. It will be interesting to see if Duarte looks to establish an attack to the body of Garcia. Although sometimes all it takes is for one punch to land in a sensitive spot, the potential perception going forward could be that Garcia does not take body punches well and thus for any future opponents, the body could be an obvious target.


It would not be surprising to see Garcia approach this fight with caution and try to protect his body as much as possible, especially if it becomes clear early on in this fight that it is the intended target for Duarte. Conventional wisdom would suggest that Garcia’s claims of the knockout at the hands of Davis, which was fought at a catchweight of 136lbs., one pound over the 135lb. Lightweight limit and four pounds under the Jr. Welterweight limit where he had fought his previous two fights, was somehow attributed to the rehydration clause, which stipulated that neither fighter could not weigh more than ten pounds heavier than the 136lb. limit on the morning of the fight, is likely going to be tested here. Despite the caliber of competition going into this fight not being at the highest level, Duarte does have all the momentum in his favor and has demonstrated in previous fights that he does have power in both hands. 


While this may have the appearance of a bounce back or “Comeback Fight" for Garcia, who is currently rated number seven in the world in the Jr. Welterweight division by the World Boxing Council (WBC), this should be viewed as a dangerous fight. If he is not mentally and physically prepared, a loss in this bout could set his career back significantly, if not put his Boxing future in doubt.


“And That's The Boxing Truth." 


Garcia vs. Duarte takes place on Saturday, December 2nd at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX. The fight as well as its undercard can be seen globally on digital subscription sports streaming network DAZN beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT.


(*U.S Times Only*)


(*Card and Start Time Subject To Change*)


For more information about DAZN including schedules, list of compatible streaming devices, platforms, Smart TVs, availability around the world, local start times in your area, and to subscribe please visit: www.DAZN.com


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