Gervonta Davis batters and stops Yuriorkis Gamboa over twelve!
Gervonta “Tank” Davis (22-0, 21KO) vs Yuriorkis Gamboa (30-2, 18KO) was a fight many did not ask for nor really wanted. In essence, you had a 38 year-old former champion who is clearly on the decline taking on a 25 year-old undefeated two-time champion in the midst of his prime!
The consensus within the boxing world was that Davis would stop his Cuban opponent somewhere within the first half of the fight. While this did not happen, the dominance that virtually everyone knew would be displayed was evident.
IN A PREVIOUS LIFE
Gamboa at one time was considered a boogeyman in boxing! This about eight years ago before he was dented up by arguably the pound-for-pound #1 fighter in the world Terence Crawford in 2014. He would then go on to be completely softened by journeyman Robinson Castellanos in 2017.
Sure he won four fights in a row, but two he escaped with close decisions many thought he lost and a third was against a more finished former champion than he is!
OVER-MATCHED & CONFUSED
Nevertheless, contracts were signed and the bell sounds to start the first round against Davis. The fight started off slow with the younger fighter feeling his opponent (thirteen years his senior) out. Although from the jump, the hand-speed, accuracy, power and reflexes of Davis were miles ahead of Gamboa.
After finding his rhythm, the explosive Tank we all saw win his first title against Jose Pedraza in 2017 showed up. A crushing shot late in the second round sent Gamboa to the canvas.
Prior to the fight, there was an issue with the type of shoes Gamboa was wearing and it seemed the issue returned after the knockdown. Apparently this caused the Cuban to lose his footing.
However, the knockdown still counted…as it should have.
The remainder of the first half of the fight consisted of Davis clobbering Gamboa with well timed counters, looping hooks and short uppercuts on the inside. The former featherweight champion had no idea how to mount an offensive attack.
Most of the rounds, his offense consisted of jumping in hoping to land something then holding. He held so much that it was shocking referee Jack Reiss did not take a point away after all the warnings!
Meanwhile, each time he jumped in, Davis had something ready for him.
Each round seemed to be the round that would be the end of the fight. However, Gamboa would not go so easy!
TRYING TO LAST TO THE END
One thing that can be said about Gamboa is he displayed a lot of heart in this fight. Not necessarily known for his chin and in fact many have labeled him as “chinny”, he took a ton of hellacious blows that had boxing fans wondering how he was still standing!
The Cuban had his moments catching an overzealous Davis coming in but his shots did next to nothing. Additionally, most of these moments came when the former junior lightweight champ would punch himself out trying to flatline his opponent.
At other points, it seemed Davis was just trying to get some rounds in and would take his foot off the gas. In turn, Gamboa would come on strong but was not all that effective.
Then in round eight, the Cuban would taste canvas again. A series of bombs would put him down at the end of the round. As he went back to his corner, his team pleaded with him to be more careful sticking around in the pocket.
TIME FOR BED
After three more rounds of playing with his food, Davis would put his opponent down again in the twelfth round for the final time. The fight realistically could have been stopped in the tenth and eleventh rounds as Gamboa spent most of that time wobbling around the ring.
However, the heart of the Cuban kept him afloat and the final knockdown was enough for Reiss to save him from himself!
With this win, Davis captures the WBA regular lightweight title. It is debatable given the status of the WBA super champion belonging to Vasiliy Lomachenko if this counts as Davis being a champion in another division (similar to Canelo Alvarez at super middleweight).
Regardless, when asked about a possible bout with Lomachenko, IBF champion Teofimo Lopez and WBC champion in recess Devin Haney, Davis made a clear statement!
“I’m the top dawg and there is no safety on this glock. Bring them on!”
By: EJ Williams
