Lightweight rival Gervonta Davis is expected to face Hector Luis Garcia in the first big game of the new year on Saturday pay-per-view.
GERGONTA DAVIS (27-0, 25 KOs) vs HECTOR LUIS GARCIA (16-0, 10 KOs)
- Date: Saturday, January 7
- Time: 9pm ET / 6pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
- Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
- television/stream: Pay Per View ($74.99)
- Assignment: Light weight (135 pounds)
- threatened: No main title
- Pound-for-pound ratings: Davis No. 10
- the odds: Davis’ 10-1 favorite (multi-store average)
- Also on the card: Jaron Ennis vs Karen Chukhadzhian, welterweight; Rashidi Ellis vs. Roiman Villa, heavyweight; Demetrius Andrade vs Demond Nicholson, super middleweight
- Guess: Davis KO 8
- Story: The main event appeared to be in jeopardy after Davis was arrested Tuesday for allegedly hitting the mother of his child – who later withdrew the charge – but the fight is going as planned. The 28-year-old from Baltimore has a deadly combination of ability and strength coupled with a massive social media following that has made him one of the sport’s biggest stars. this. He has consecutively beaten Leo Santa Cruz (130 pounds), Mario Barrios (140), Isaac Cruz (135) and Rolando Romero (135), all by knockout except for Cruz. The Mexicans took Davis far in part because Davis fought with a wounded hand. Davis and Ryan Garcia agreed to meet in a superfight earlier this year, assuming “The Tank” wins on Saturday. Hector Garcia also asks for respect. The 31-year-old Dominican boxer, skillful and aggressive, stunned the boxing world by easily knocking out hot rival Chris Colbert in the Upset of the Year last February and then defeating Roger Gutierrez with an extensive deciding game in August for the 130-pound belt. The fact that he gained weight to take on a boxer of Davis’ caliber could be a significant disadvantage.
