Davis vs Garcia Fight Breakdown & Predictions

The wait is over. In a career-defining fight, Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia will finally face off in Las Vegas to determine the new face of boxing. 

In an era when the biggest match-ups are perhaps not made at the right time, neither ‘Tank’ or Garcia showed any hesitation in putting pen to paper on their modern day blockbuster.

Their anticipated showdown could prove to have a significant cultural impact on the sport, potentially forcing other high-profile names to avoid further delays and embrace the most testing but rewarding clashes.

Furthermore, it's an event for both diehard and casual fans, that could ultimately prove to be the decisive release from the stranglehold YouTube Boxing and glorified side attractions have had on the sport for some time.

While the 2023 boxing schedule already boasts other illustrious meetings, Davis vs Garcia will undoubtedly hold the most value and have the greatest impact across the board this weekend. 

Fight Breakdown

When two knockout punchers collide, it’s often the case that the superior technical boxer of the pair is the one who comes out on top (Gennadiy Golovkin vs David Lemieux, Marvelous Marvin Hagler vs John Mugabi and Mike McCallum vs Julian Jackson, for example).

While Garcia has more recently enjoyed some high-profile victories, it’s Davis who possesses the better-rounded skillset from a deeper experience at the top level. 

With almost 50 knockouts combined, both men can end the night in an instant, but Tank has showcased a wider range of abilities in previous ring outings – proving he’s a lot more than just a heavy hitter.

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Against late replacement, Isaac Cruz, back in December 2021, Davis needed to fight on the back foot against a highly aggressive challenger. 

Utilising his underrated boxing skills and using lateral movement, Tank overcame the come-forward Mexican brawler over 12 rounds, despite suffering a serious hand injury during proceedings. 

After slower starts against Mario Barrios, Rolando Romero and Hector Garcia, Davis was also able to methodically break his opponents down with precise attacks and secure stoppage successes in the mid-to-late rounds. 

Keys To Victory

As the taller and naturally bigger fighter, Garcia will want to use his range to keep a safer distance throughout the clash and bring Tank, a southpaw, on to his dangerous left hook. 

Coming off a KO triumph over another southpaw, Javier Fortuna, in his most-recent bout last July, Garcia will be riding high on confidence ahead of facing his latest left-handed adversary.

But Davis represents a significant step up in class and, having previously been dropped heavily by a far less powerful southpaw Luke Campbell in 2021, Garcia must avoid being caught flat-footed with his chin left high, if he’s to avoid a more devastating ending in Vegas. 

Experience at the highest level is another potentially deciding aspect when the bell sounds in Sin City. Tank claimed his first world title back in 2017 with a brutal dismantling of Jose Pedraza, who has since become a two-weight world champion, while Garcia was still yet to be involved in a full scheduled 12-rounder at 13-0. 

A Matter of Size

In what could eventually turn into a gruelling, all-action brawl deep into the later rounds, weight and size could play a key factor. 

The fight was set at a 136 pounds catchweight and a rehydration limit of 146 pounds has been agreed, meaning neither man can add more than 10 pounds between the official weigh-in and the morning of fight day. 

Despite both fighters having competed as high as light-welterweight, it’s Garcia, with a larger natural physique, who the rehydration clause is more likely to have an effect on in the ring.

With Tank and his team clearly knowing this and, recently outlining intentions of taking Garcia into “deep waters”, expect the three-weight world champion to target the body early before piling the pressure on as the rounds go on. 

To get within range in order to unleash that sustained assault on Garcia’s midriff, Tank will need to safely close the distance with his feints and high guard, while being cautious of an incoming lead left hook. 

As shown in the stoppage win over the towering figure of Barrios, Tank was able to get in close and let those demoralising body shots fly. 

Bringing the exchanges to the inside against the upright stance of Garcia will likely be another key part of Davis’ gameplan once again, firing the body shots in before going back upstairs with his trademark left hand. 

Global Super-Fight

A swift start to this electrifying clash for Garcia would serve him well, if he can then weather a late storm. Tank has shown he’s not a fighter who specifically goes out to try and bank rounds, instead systematically grinding opponents down to capitalise down the stretch. 

This has never become a major issue for Davis in his career so far, but it’s likely that Garcia and his coach, the esteemed Joe Goossen, will aim to take advantage of this trend by securing clear rounds to force Tank to open up deep into the fight.

But, with the greater experience of going deep into championship fights and possessing the superior ring craft, Davis seemingly has more in his arsenal to take his rival out within the distance and subsequently catapult his stature in the sport to even further heights. 

It speaks for the magnitude of the event and the reputation of both fighters that, regardless of there being no world titles on the line, this is still an unmissable super-fight with a global audience. It’s 28-0 vs 23-0. It’s Tank vs Garcia. It’s finally here. LFG. 

Davis vs Garcia Predictions

Ahead of such a massive fight night, many high-profile names within the boxing industry have been dropping their own picks and Davis vs Garcia predictions. See who's picking who below.

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