Gervonta Davis Drops Mario Barrios Three Times; Gets Eleventh Round Stoppage!
In a battle of unbeaten champions, two-division world champion and current WBA “regular” lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (24-0, 23KOs) will move up in weight again to challenge WBA “regular” junior welterweight champion Mario “El Azteca” Barrios (26-0, 17KOs). The two clashed in the Showtime Pay-Per-View main event in Atlanta, Georgia.
For Davis this is his second consecutive Pay-Per-View as the headliner. In his last fight, he wowed boxing fans all over with his lights out one punch knockout over multi-division champion Leo Santa Cruz in six rounds. This go-round, he’ll be considered the smaller man going up against a bigger fighter with a huge height and reach advantage in Barrios. Still the Baltimore, Maryland native was considered a major favorite.
For Barrios, this is a golden opportunity to thrust himself into the wide eyes of all boxing fans. The unbeaten Mexican fighter has showed a very good skill set with good power. He has a penchant for displaying versatility as he can box and fight. While he has pretty much every physical advantage, power withstanding, he lacks big fight experience.
SLOW START TO THE ACTION!
In a fight that figured to provide action, very little occurred in the first half. With both men electing to fight with patience and caution, it caused for a little bit of a stinker. Early on the action was carried by Barrios, who would consistently throw his left jab followed by right hooks to the head and left hooks to the body.
Davis, being patient and trying to figure a way to circumvent the reach disadvantage, would be relegated to throwing one shot at a time. However, it wouldn’t be too long before he started to get into his rhythm.
TANK REVS UP THE ACTION AND PAIN!
Round eight came and saw Tank throw bombs! Struggling to get consistent offense going, that would change thanks to a pair of knockdowns in the round. The first would come by a right hook, with the second being from a vicious left hook!
Barrios, now tired and cut under his left eye, was in survival mode for the remainder of the round. However, the fighter from San Antonio, Texas would show major heart and grit as he would go toe to toe with Davis. This provided the action many thought would occur throughout. The fight would regain its competitive nature over the course of the next couple of rounds as both men traded big shots. Barrios would impressively continue to work the body while landing some hard left hooks and straight right hands.
THE CURTAINS CLOSED ON BARRIOS!
The eleventh round would be the finale for Barrios. In the midst of exchanging punches, Davis landed his signature left uppercut. This time to the body of Barrios that sent him down for the third time. After rising to his feet, Davis jumped back on attack resulting in the referee stepping in to stop the fight.
Davis, now considered by some a three division world champion, has a plethora of opportunities that await him down the line. He can stay at junior welterweight, drop back down to lightweight or even junior lightweight. Regardless of what he decides, big fights await him if he wants them.
For Barrios, he suffers his first professional loss. However, he showed that he’s very much capable of competing with the top guys at junior welterweight.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
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