Gervonta Davis Doesn’t Measure Up to Shane Mosley at 135
Hall of Famer and former IBF lightweight champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley (49-10-1, 41 KOs) is one of the best lightweights over the past thirty years. But in 2024, a growing number of fight fans on social media believe that the reigning WBA 135-pound champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) has surpassed and would beat Mosley in a fantasy matchup. While those contemporary fans are entitled to their opinion, their assessment is asinine.
A LOOK AT THEIR RESUMES
Davis is arguably boxing’s most popular current fighter. He’s also arguably the hardest hitter in the sport right now. The 29-year-old has anointed himself as the new face of the sport. It’s hard to argue against his claim. Stoppage victories over Ryan Garcia in April 2023 and Frank Martin in June 2024 are indicators that Tank has reached superstar status.
Today’s younger generation remember Mosley from his days at 147 and 154 pounds. However, Sugar was at the height of his powers at 135, where he held the IBF belt from August 1997 to September 1999. During his lightweight reign, he was a dynamic force and ranked by pundits as one of the elite fighters in the sport.
SIMPLY A LEVEL ABOVE
Tank is a patient and calculated power hitter. He likes to set traps for his opponents and makes them ruthlessly pay for their mistakes. Fans of Davis feel he would do exactly that to Mosley and knock him out – not likely.
At 135, Mosley had the speed, skill, movement, and athleticism to outbox Davis. Mosley would use his jab and combination punches to keep Davis at bay. He also had the power to earn his respect. Davis often fights in spurts. Rarely do you see him throw punches for three minutes. That bad habit would leave him vulnerable to getting outworked.
In close quarters, the Hall of Famer would have his way with Davis and pound away at his midsection. Most importantly, Mosley had the iron chin to hold up to the power of Tank.
There’s no doubt about Davis’s excitement level. He often keeps fans on the edge of their seats whenever he fights. However, there are levels to this boxing game. Mosley was better in every facet besides punishing power and would have the better of Tank in a fight at 135. To think otherwise is to be guilty of being a prisoner of the moment about Davis. It’s time to give Mosley his flowers for the fighter that he was at lightweight.
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