Invincible boxing superstar Gervonta “The Tank” Davis And “King” Ryan Garcia face off for the first time at a press conference in New York on Wednesday as they preview their highly anticipated 12-round matchup, the title of which is a pay-per-view event on Saturday, April 22 during a Premier Boxing Champions event from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The TV show is being produced and distributed by SHOWTIME PPV and will be available on pay-per-view providers including DAZN PPV.
Davis vs. Garcia is promoted by GTD Promotions, TGB Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.
Ticket for the live event will go on sale on Friday, March 10 at 10 a.m. PT and will be available through www.axs.com.
Pre-sale tickets will be available TOMORROW, Thursday, March 9 from 10 a.m. PT to 10 p.m. PT with code: BOXING
In a rare match of undefeated superstars at the peak of their careers, Davis vs. Garcia is set to be a crossover event that captures the imagination of the sports world. With contrasting, colorful personalities and an aggressive, dynamic style in the ring that translates into outstanding knockouts, April 22 is expected to be the boxing event not to be missed. in year.
Davis and Garcia had a long and heated confrontation at the conclusion of the press conference, providing a glimpse of the intensity on deck for the night of fights. Here’s what attendees of Wednesday’s press conference said from Palladium Times Square:
Gervonta DAVIS
“We’ve come back to it. This time we have another dance partner. I know it will be very difficult. This fight is sure to be tough. But this is what we came to do. We want the big fights.
“I have been boxing since I was seven. I’ve been fighting a lot coming up. I am so happy to be a part of this moment and to share the ring with a young boxer like Ryan Garcia who has always dared to be great. He spoke his way in this fight. April 22 he will have to show it.
“I’m from Baltimore and a lot of people don’t make it from there. I am very happy to be a part of this event. I cannot do this alone. I had a great team that brought me here.
“We were focused and kept our heads down and kept brooding. That’s what really matters.
“I think this is important because we are both young. We are both at our peak. A lot of young boxers don’t fight. We’ve both made our names and now it’s time. We are both great fighters and we put it all first.
“All I had to do was keep working and beat whoever they put in front of me. That starts with Ryan Garcia.
“My strategy will depend on what he brings that night. No matter how fast or slow he comes, I always want to make time for myself. It all depends on what he brings.
“This will be an explosive war. It was two hungry young men. It’s all about who wants it more. Whoever is really built like that, that will be the winner. No one can fight for him. The question is who raised that dog in person.”
RYAN GARCIA
“This is a fight that I have wanted for a long time. To become a champion, you must beat the best. It’s not about titles, it’s about who you beat. It is testament to the respect I have for Gervonta as a fighter.
“I wanted to be the best. In this whole journey, I put boxing first and the fans. I had to accept a lot of regulations, but my strength came from within and from above. My strength comes from my heart.
“We really came together and won over the poison that was stopping boxing from doing the biggest fights. We found a way.
“April 22 is the time when words no longer matter. The truth will appear. We’re both great fighters and we’ll tackle it in the ring.
“If you look at boxing, it’s hard to get the top boxers together. It often happens too late. This is a moment where boxing has been coveted. You really can’t make a bigger war than this.
“This is a defining moment in our careers. This is about heritage. This is about people who really want the crown.
“The ‘tank’ bears the image of a brutal puncher. He is an excellent warrior. I will know for myself what kind of warrior I am after this war. This is what I’ve always wanted.
“I just don’t want to risk a temporary hit before this game. There are a lot of little things that can happen. I didn’t wait that long to spoil it at the finish line.
“I will be ready for 12 rounds. You must respect your opponent. You can’t just jump in to get a knockout. It can be more of a mental battle than people can believe. Different opponents make you approach the battle in different ways.”
CALVIN FORD, Davis Coach
“These two are bringing boxing back. You will feel this energy. These are two great warriors. You all made it happen.
“This fight is about the next generation of boxing to come. I can’t wait to be at this new level. After this war, who will sit on this throne? It was a passing of the torch.
“We have been waiting for something like this for years. This is the fight that will make the other boxers really fight. Here’s how it’s done.
“You haven’t seen anything yet. The best is yet to come. I really can’t wait. We are ready. Let’s do it.”
JOE GOOSSEN, Garcia’s Coach
“What a wonderful event this will be. When you gather two fighters together, it will come true. we both used to trainbut I think after this press conference you will get a new energy.
“We knew it was going to be an uphill battle. Ryan is a great fighter and I know that both of you will have a great performance.
“These two men will go down in history. This is an incredible couple that you don’t see too often. This is a paid view that I won’t miss. Because it will be very interesting. We have two of the best boxers of our time sitting at this table and I can’t wait.”
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“It’s happening. This highly anticipated Super Battle, which fans have been waiting for, will take place on April 22 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Make no mistake, this is a super fight. It’s one of the biggest things boxing has to offer.
“It’s not often in today’s bout that we see two boxers in their prime, both undefeated and both powerful knockouts, clashing in their prime. .
“This is boxing at its best. It is not ordered. It was the case of the two best boxers in the division that made this happen.
“Any fight with the ‘Tanks’ brings great business and financial success. He broke records everywhere he fought and that made him one of the biggest boxing stars. He is one of the most explosive and dangerous fighters in the world.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, Boxing Promoter
“Here are two invincibles coming together and it will be nothing but fireworks. You have to give all the credit to the two boxers. It’s not about the promoters, it’s about Ryan being forced to fight.
“This is the biggest match in the entire sport. I recall that a few years ago when I was in Miami, Ryan approached me and said I wanted to ‘wake up your boy’. It was the only fight he wanted.
“‘Tank’ Davis is going to go out there and show you why he’s one of the best boxers in the world.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, President and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“This is a great battle. That phrase gets thrown around a lot. How often do you meet two undefeated guys who have huge fan bases and are at the peak of their careers?
“This is about putting two of the best fighters in their weight class in the same ring. We are all working together to make this great battle. It almost never happens, but this is something the world won’t miss.
“We will bring back the glory days because of Ryan Garcia. April 22, these two fighters will fight it. I won’t fight for them. They have to do it themselves.
“These two want this fight. Ryan Garcia wanted this fight years ago and now it’s here. May the best man win. I have great respect for ‘Tank’. He’s a special fighter, but Ryan Garcia is special too.”
BERNARD HOPKINS, Golden Boy Advertising Partner
“This is one of those battles that we don’t see except once or twice a year in the 1980s or 1990s. This war has components. These two boxers will be the future Hall of Famers. This is the biggest fight this year. We should all treat it that way.
“Tell all non-fans fighting to regulate this. This will be a fight that attracts them and makes them stay with sweet science.
“Don’t ask me who will win, because you know which side I’m on.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President, SHOWTIME SPORTS
“’Tank’ Davis and Ryan Garcia are two warriors in the core social media demographic, legit fighters with huge fan bases. This is a social media ad. These guys don’t get the credit they deserve as skilled boxers. It’s clear that they’re attracting fans beyond the core base. They are brands.
“We have two very different groups of fans geographically, both traveling. Ryan’s fan base is really strong in Southern California, the Southwest, and in the Mexican-American community. The core of ‘The Tank’ is the East Coast, although he’s clearly done well around the country. We have two very attached fan bases and two very different fighters.
“This war is the rising tide that lifts all the ships. There is an enthusiasm that permeates everything else. It raises the level of action.
“This fight is one of the cornerstones of our ambitious 2023 schedule. It was a fight between two of the most famous young boxers in the sport, two boxers at the peak of the sport and two of the most exciting boxers in any weight class. Put those things together and you have the biggest fight on the boxing calendar.
“When a big war like this happens, there will be no shortage of people rushing to claim the credit. ‘Tank’ Davis and Ryan Garcia deserve credit for this amazing event. During long negotiations, they never wavered. They remain focused, denying an easy exit and taking advantage of other opportunities, while delivering what the sport and the fans want.”
