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FIGHT WEEK
Gervonta Davis will face off against Ryan Garcia in a hot, young star pay-per-view battle Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
GERVONTA DAVIS (28-0, 26 KOS)
WITH. RYAN GARCIA (23-0, 19 KOS)
- When: Saturday, April 22
- Time: 8pm ET / 5pm PT (main event after that)
- Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
- television/stream: Pay Per View ($84.99)
- Assignment: Mining weight 136 pounds
- threatened: No main title
- Pound-for-pound ratings: Davis No. 10
- the odds: Davis 2½-1 favorite (multi-store average)
- Also on the card: David Morrell Jr. against Yamaguchi Falcao, super average; Gabriel Rosado versus Bektemir Melikuziev, super average; Elijah Garcia vs Kevin Salgado, middleweight
- Guess: Davis KO 9
- Background: One of the biggest matches that can happen in the sport is ready. The principals don’t have a deep background but their abilities – including the power to knock out with one punch – and popularity are undeniable. Davis is the more proven item of the two, with titles in two divisions and wins over capable opponents like Leo Santa Cruz, Mario Barrios, Isaac Cruz, Rolando Romero and Hector Luis Garcia (last January) in his last five battles. Only Cruz got the distance, in part because Davis fought with an injured hand. Many believe the 28-year-old from Baltimore has the all-round ability and fan appeal to be the face of the sport. Garcia may be best known for his good looks and social media following, but like Davis, he’s gifted, a top amateur and has tremendous power. The 24-year-old product of the Southern California desert rose from the knockout stage to stop Olympic champion Luke Campbell with a body shot in the 7th round, his winning streak. He followed that with the decision on Emmanuel Tagoe a year ago and defeat Javier Fortuna last July. Davis deserves favor but Garcia is not easy. The boxers have a combined record of 51-0 (45 KOs)
SHAVKATDZHON RAKHIMOV vs (17-0-1, 14 KOS)
WITH. JOE CORDINA (15-0.9 KOS)
- When: Saturday, April 22
- Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event follows)
- Where: Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff, Wales
- television/stream: DAZN
- Assignment: Lightweight for kids (130 pounds)
- threatened: Rakhimov . IBF title
- Pound-for-pound ratings: Do not have
- the odds: Cordina 2½-1 favorite (multi-store average)
- Also on the card: Gavin Gwynne vs. Craig Woodruff, lightweight; Zelfa Barrett versus Alex Dilmaghani, junior lightweight; Sandy Ryan vs. Marie-Pier Houle, welterweight (for the vacant WBO title); Jordan Thompson vs Luke Watkins, cruiser class
- Guess: University of Cordina
- Background: Cordina made his name in the amateur category for the first time, culminating in his appearance in the 2016 Olympics. The Welshman was eliminated in the second half. His breakthrough professional victory came last June, when he blocked Kenichi Ogawa in two rounds for the 130-pound IBF belt in Wales. He never defended it. He was scheduled to face mandatory challenger Rakhimov on 5 November but had to withdraw due to a hand injury that required surgery, after which he was stripped of his belt. Rakhimov fought Zelfa Barrett that day in Abu Dhabi, winning by knockout in the ninth round to claim the vacant IBF title. So, instead of defending against Rakhimov, Cordina will challenge the new champion from Tajikistan. Rakhimov also has a solid amateur background, reaching the third round of the 2013 World Championships. The 28-year-old, who lives and trains in Los Angeles, has won two straight games since he drew with the belt holder. The IBF at the time was Joseph Diaz Jr. in February 2021.
FIGHT THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
- Luis Collazo vs Angel Ruiz, welterweight, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)
FRIDAY
- Jamie Morrissey vs. Kevin Cronin, lightweight, Galway, Ireland (ESPN+)
- George Acosta vs. Blas Ezequiel Caro, junior lightweight, Ontario, California (Thompson Boxing Facebook and YouTube)
- JMX vs. Le’Veon Bell, cruiser class, New Orleans (DAZN)
SATURDAY
- Lukasz Rozanski vs Alen Babic, heavyweight player (for vacant WBC title), Rzeszow, Poland
(No TV in the US)
