Can we really watch Ryan Garcia and Tank Davis?
A critical look at the past week in boxing
GOOD
Ryan Garcia defeat Javier Fortuna, not one of the title holders or top contenders at or near his weight. A predictable win on Saturday in LA So we can’t read too much into the extra time of the sixth round.
However, I am comfortable saying this: He looks like a star on national television, which is very important for a boxer who considers himself one of the most important figures in the sport. this sport.
The talented Garcia quickly overpowered his veteran opponent with his unusual speed, power and all-round ability, knocking down the Dominican three times and he ended up making a decent save. brutal in the sixth round.
The 23-year-old from the Southern California desert watched in that fight as if he could compete with anyone, including arch-rival Gervonta Davis.
That was exactly the kind of statement he was hoping to make after a short while unanimous-decisive victory over Emmanuel Tagoe in his previous game, in April, he was fired for the first time for 15 months to deal with his mental health and injury.
Garcia told his opponents with his performance, “I’m a dominant boxer, not just a social media personality.”
The reward that paid off is where he has been after knocking out Olympic gold medalist Luke Campbell in a stunning seventh round last January, near the pinnacle of the sport and ready to take over. when he was only 23 years old.
I can’t wait to see how the career of “King Ry” plays out. And I know I have a lot of companies.
BAD
The showdown between Garcia and Gervonta Davis will be an uphill battle.
Garcia is run by Golden Boy Promotions, a company affiliated with DAZN and strongly loyal to the streaming service. Davis is managed by Premier Boxing Champions, which is affiliated with Showtime.
Davis has a higher record than Garcia and will almost certainly have a bigger draw, meaning he and his partners will have more leverage in the negotiations. If there’s an “A” spoken in this match, it’s Davis.
And Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza has indicated he is not interested in doing business with DAZN, which would require a piece of the pie if Garcia and Davis end up sharing a ring.
“Look, I don’t think we need two platforms in this. I don’t,” Espinoza said.
Garcia could be the key to a deal. Golden Boy is contractually bound to DAZN, Garcia clearly does not. That means Garcia can order the Golden Boy to stand down and allow Showtime to showcase the fight.
Then there’s the weight. Garcia is now a 140-pound person, he said; Davis’ last two games have been light and he seems comfortable there.
However, this is not a significant obstacle. One, Davis fought once at 140, stopping Mario Barrios for 11 innings last June. And, two, they can also agree to fight at 138, give or take a pound.
Of course, there will be other points of contention, money being the most obvious one. However, the wallet is key in any negotiation. Garcia and Davis can get through that unless they make unreasonable demands, although many fighters have inflated their self-worth.
We can only hope the fighters and their handlers put their ego and greed aside and focus on what the fight means to the fighters and the sport. Then they can find common ground.
WORSE
Garcia vs. Davis is the battle that fans want to see.
It simply doesn’t get better than combining two talented, incredibly powerful warriors who happen to be at or approaching their primes. The fact that they have a large following only adds to the excitement of the potential showdown.
If it doesn’t happen – and, again, the odds may be against it – loyal fans will be once again disappointed.
However, it will not be the end of the world. Garcia said that if he and Davis don’t come to an agreement, he wants to face former undisputed 135-pound champion Teofimo Lopez in an exciting bout if Lopez beats Pedro Campa on August 13.
Lopez also fights for a rival promoter, Top Rated, which has a deal with ESPN. However, Golden Boy and Top Rank can work together more friendly than Golden Boy and PBC.
And there are some other good options for Garcia at 140, which are top-heavy talent. Consolidated President Josh Taylor, Jose Ramirez, Regis Prograis, Joseph Diaz Jr. and Jose Zepeda are both attractive contenders for Garcia.
And of course, Garcia was an attractive opponent for them. He doesn’t have a title but he has a big fan base and a big personality which will help generate big profits for all the participants.
Bottom line for Garcia: He’s got a lot of good options.