Gervonta Davis put on another spectacular performance Saturday night in Las Vegas, stopping Ryan Garcia in seven rounds in a scheduled 12-pound 136-pound bout.
The victory confirmed the position of the “Tank” among the few best fighters in the world.
The next step in Davis’ career (29-0.27 KOs) will be the hardest, at least on paper: meeting one of the older, top 135-pound athletes.
Here are the 5 most likely contenders for the rising star from Baltimore.
SHAKUR STEVENSON
Take note: 20-0 (10 KOs)
Stevenson is possibly the best boxer on the planet. The former 130-pound master is impregnable, with a natural gift and ability to knock out his opponents while getting almost nothing in return. And the 25-year-old from New Jersey did not fight the parasites, with Joet Gonzalez, Jamel Herring and Oscar Valdez among his victims. Davis himself, an excellent technician, can take on anyone but he often relies on big punches to get the job done. He could have trouble landing cleanly against Stevenson, who was able to stick around and move his way to surviving 12 innings and claiming a decisive win. One responsibility of Stevenson is his normal punch power, which can work against him during his meeting with Davis. Can the fight be made? Davis and Stevenson are associated with competing stores. But so did Davis and Garcia. If Davis wants the fight to happen, it will.
DEVIN HANEY
Take note: 29-0 (15 KOs)
Haney is the undisputed champion but not necessarily the #1 135-pound athlete. The 24-year-old from San Francisco is also one of the best technicians in the business, despite though perhaps not as good as Stevenson. And he punches no harder than Stevenson, which would add to the challenge he faces with an all-around boxer like Davis. However, Haney should not be underestimated, even against Davis. He has a wealth of combat experience, including consecutive wins over George Kambosos (his first time winning all four titles). And he’s an exceptional 135-pound person, which is always a plus. Negotiations between Davis and Haney could also be difficult. Still, Davis will be highly motivated to fight for the undisputed championship, whether it’s against Haney or Vasiliy Lomachenko. Haney and Lomachenko are scheduled to meet on May 20.
VASILIY LOMACHENKO
Take note: 17-2 (11 KOs)
Lomachenko is a wildcard. The boxing wizard from Ukraine could turn most people into fools in the old days but he is 35 years old now. We’ll find out if he still has it while fighting Haney. Many dismissed Lomachenko when he lost the 135-pound belt to Teofimo Lopez by a unanimous decision in October 2020. However, he fought off an injured shoulder in that bout. Since then, he has brought in convincing wins against Masayoshi Nakatani (TKO 9), Richard Commey (UD) and Jamaine Ortiz (UD), leading some to believe he still has a lot to offer in his career. this sport. That could be bad news for Davis if they meet in the ring. A Lomachenko playing at the top can disappoint anyone, even the top players. Competing entities can also cause problems in this regard. However, if Lomachenko defeats Haney, Davis will want to fight him.
FRANK MARTIN
Take note: 17-0 (12 KOs)
Martin wasn’t as established as the big four – Davis, Stevenson, Haney and Lomachenko – but he showed signs of an exceptional fighter. He has impressive God-given gifts, honing skills, and solid punch power. He got his big breakthrough in his most recent bout, an overwhelming unanimous decision over the previously undefeated and respected Michel Rivera in December that lifted the 28-year-old from Detroit to No. elite mind. He’s ranked in the Top 7 of all four major sanctioning bodies, which means a big fight is on the horizon if he goes on to win. Can he push Davis? That would be difficult without a lot of experience in big fights, but he has the tools to solve the problem for anyone. Also, he and Davis are both a good fit for PBC and Showtime, which should make negotiating relatively easy.
ISAAC CRUZ
Take note: 24-2-1 (17 KOs)
Cruz got into trouble with Davis, he made himself clear in a unanimous decision defeat in December 2021. So good that he is said to have earned the right to see Davis again. The stout, strong Mexican may have revealed the recipe that could trouble Davis, the relentless pressure combined with his ability to take strong punches. Cruz never stopped coming. Davis later said that he regenerated his (leading) left hand during the match, which was a significant handicap. Maybe a healthy, ambidextrous Davis will dominate Cruz, maybe not. One thing is for sure: After the first fight, Cruz will enter the ring with a lot of confidence. That’s half the battle against fearsome boxers like Davis. I don’t know if Davis is interested in giving Cruz another hit but the fight will be easy since they share the same manager.
next two: William Zepeda, a strong, aggressive puncher; Keyshawn Davis, a talented but relatively inexperienced Olympic silver medalist.
