Fight Focus: Tank Primed For Showtime Spectacle
Gervonta Davis vs. Leo Santa Cruz
Saturday, October 31st
Live on Showtime PPV
Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas
WBA lightweight and WBA ‘Super’ super-featherweight titles
It’s an extremely high bar set for Gervonta Davis, following on from a fighter that calls himself ‘The Best Ever’. But it’s just another testing obstacle for ‘Tank’ to overcome along his long-travelled path to pay-per-view prominence.
Under the invaluable guidance of Floyd Mayweather Jr. at his Las Vegas-based gym and rallied on by career-long coach Calvin Ford, Davis next looks to make a successful step onto the PPV main event stage.
This Saturday night, 1,583 miles from his home of Baltimore, ‘Tank’ will climb into the ring under the bright lights of the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, battle-ready and prepared to make a statement.
Four-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz provides the latest test for one of boxing’s quickly rising stars, serving as his most accomplished adversary to date within the squared-circle.
Two world titles from two different divisions are on the line in this highly-awaited headline clash. But there can only be one victor, in front of the first returning fight crowd since the global pandemic reaped havoc on the sport throughout 2020.
It’s been a challenging journey from the streets of Baltimore to the pinnacle of elite boxing for Davis. “Boxing saved my life”, he admitted in the build-up to the biggest fight of his career to date, being one of the few to survive the afflictions that come from growing up where he did.
Many of those that came up with him were killed; falling victim to the street life that Davis has used his fists to rise up from. Alongside a family-like team, they’ve helped build a more promising path in life.
Difficult hurdles are therefore common practise for ‘Tank’. With his father in prison and his mother battling addiction, he was placed into child protective services at just five years old, having to move between foster homes and shelters. His climb to ring success has been as steep as it gets.
While some may use that early upbringing as an excuse to slip down the wrong path in life, Davis used it as his motivation to succeed. “He came from the dirt to this,” outlined an emotional Calvin Ford during the lead-up to this weekend’s Showtime showdown. He now sits on the cusp of PPV stardom in one of the most eagerly-anticipated match-ups of a turbulent year.
With 22 knockouts from 23 of his professional bouts, ‘Tank’ undoubtedly holds that rare equaliser; the power to end a fight in the blink of an eye with one single shot. But there’s much more to his arsenal than explosiveness in each hand, also possessing the technical ability to outbox and outthink opponents at the highest level.
A more composed and mature fighter now than in recent years, Davis will need to call on that full range of talents against the experienced Mexican Santa Cruz this Saturday night in Texas.
What stands in front of him is another problem to solve; another challenge to confront and overcome. But it’s nothing new for ‘Tank’, as he takes a step to the next level that he’s worked his entire life to reach.