Gervonta Davis looking to make a splash at lightweight!
Well it’s the last weekend of the year and Gervonta “Tank” Davis (22-0, 21 KO’s) and Yuriorkis “El Ciclon de Guantanamo” Gamboa (30-2, 18 KO’s) are looking to close it with a bang! The two will lock horns on December 28 to see who will walk away with the vacant WBA “regular” lightweight title.
The exciting card will take place in Atlanta, Georgia inside the State Farm Arena and will air live on SHOWTIME @ 9:00 PM ET. The prizefight is also serving as a barometer to measure Tank’s commercial drawing power in the Atlanta area.
COMMON PERCEPTION
Since its announcement this fight has been viewed as a fairly easy showcase win for Davis. The hard-hitting Baltimore native is in the spring of his prime while Gamboa is without question in the twilight of his professional career.
It is the widely held opinion that somewhere in the fight Tank will clip and stop the former Olympian.
The last time, (really the only time) that Davis has gone to the cards was against German Meraz. That was well back in 2014. Since the Meraz scrap, Tank has enjoyed a five year, 13 consecutive knockout streak.
Although, Davis’s critics are quick to point out that he has not faced very stiff competition. In fact, Tank’s mid-level range of opposition is the only reason that some are giving Gamboa a shot.
Since his showdown with Jose “Sniper” Pedraza (26-3, 13 KO’s) the Tank detractors, and many of his fans, have been underwhelmed with his level of competition.
LAST SHOT AT GLORY
When El Ciclon stormed the professional ranks there were extraordinarily high hopes for him. The confident Cuban’s stellar amateur pedigree, blinding hand speed and devastating power led plenty of folks to think he was going to make big noise.
To a degree he has made good on his promise.
Gamboa has tasted featherweight championship glory, seen some good pay days and had some entertaining bouts. However, his pro odyssey began nearly thirteen years ago.
In that time, even though he only has two defeats, the most notable scalps that Gamboa has claimed are: Jason Sosa, Orlando Salido and Daniel Ponce de Leon.
In his 32 fights, Gamboa has only amassed two losses, one to pound for pound and current WBO world welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford (36-0, 27 KO’s) and the other to journeyman Robinson “Robin Hood” Castellanos (24-14, 14 KO’s).
Yet, at nearly forty years old, the up-coming standoff with Davis is likely Gamboa’s last shot at a title.
An upset win for the Cuban would send shockwaves through the boxing world and rejuvenate his career. Only time will tell if El Ciclon can buck the odds and topple the young gun.
However, no matter who wins, it should be fun while it lasts!
By: Bakari Simpson
