Forget the heavyweights – this is the boxing match of the year

Oscar De La Hoya unpacks the really big caliber when it comes to the boxing match between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia. De La Hoya is Garcia’s promoter, so one can certainly assume selfish motives behind his words. However, his statement is not completely out of the blue. As little as when he says, “This is the fight of the year.”

Because Davis and Garcia are two of the most exciting boxers right now. Both go undefeated in the long-awaited duel, which has been planned for a long time, but failed several times for various reasons. As is often the case in boxing, there were arguments between the promoters and the broadcasters, but Garcia really wanted to fight and Davis knew he would want to fight the Mexican. And so repeated social media spikes turned into jabs and uppercuts on Sunday morning (7:30 a.m. Swiss time).

In boxing, it is not a matter of course that such feuds actually end up in the ring. This is another reason why there is a chance that a boxing match could break the one million pay-per-view mark for the first time since 2018. The cost point is $85 in the US. Not only die-hard boxing fans should listen: the unequal duel fascinates outside the general public.

Garcia’s mental health struggles

Considered a beautiful boy and part-time influencer, Ryan Garcia has 9.6 million followers on Instagram, more than almost any other boxer. The 24-year-old’s strength lies in his speed, opponents often don’t know what hit them with his quick succession of shots. At the same time, Garcia is an “empathetic person”, as he himself says about “The Athletic”. This is because of the difficult time that the believing Christian has behind him.

In 2021, he took a long break from boxing due to his mental health issues. “At one point I wanted to kill myself,” he told USA Today. Only through therapy did the father-of-two find his way back to the track – and into the ring. After two wins last year, he now stands at 23-0-0 with 19 wins by knockout

His opponent is the opposite. For Gervonta Davis, mental health problems are just excuses. Almost everyone suffers from psychological problems, he does not understand why Garcia publicly reveals this. “I think he needs attention. He wants people to feel sorry for him,” said the 28-year-old.

Power versus speed

Davis, who grew up in very poor conditions in Baltimore and lived in foster homes or homes for a long time, has some problems of his own. In November 2020, he committed a collision after a car accident that left four people in the hospital. On May 5 – about two weeks after the fight against Garcia – Davis expects the verdict, he may have to go to prison. In January, he was also charged with domestic violence against the mother of one of his children. Nevertheless, he steps into the ring in Las Vegas this weekend.

In the desert town in Nevada, he is aiming for his 29th victory in 29 fights – preferably for the 27th time prematurely. Because of his strength, Davis is also referred to as “The Tank”. The duel between Davis and Garcia will therefore also be one between power and speed. While Davis isn’t slow and Garcia isn’t weak, they can’t quite match each other’s strengths in those aspects.

It will not be about a title, although Davis holds the world lightweight title (up to 61.2 kg) from the WBA association. But for the fight against Garcia, who normally fights in the super lightweight (up to 63.5 kg), the two have agreed on a fighting weight of 61.7 kg. Normally, before the weigh-in, the opponents lose weight to the required weight through dehydration and food deprivation, and then return to normal weight. This time, however, that will not be possible without restrictions, especially not for Garcia, who is 14 centimeters taller. Because on the morning of the fight we weigh again, then the limit is 66.2 kilograms.

Verbal attacks before the fight

Garcia interprets this as a lack of integrity and fighting spirit: “He likes to fight against people who have no strength. He doesn’t have the heart of a champion.” The six-foot-tall Davis responded, “He’s taller and weighs nearly 80 kilograms. Should I allow him to weigh more than 70 kilograms in combat? I’m not stupid.” Garcia met his opponent on the clauses, as well as the distribution of the prize money, from which he receives slightly less than Davis. He’s had enough of fighting second-rate boxers, “it’s not a challenge.” That’s why he wanted this fight so badly: “It’s the one thing I’ve wanted in a long time: to beat Gervonta Davis and destroy him. To end everything he’s ever worked for.”

Garcia has the size and weight advantage, but overall the more versatile Davis is clearly favored. Still, Garcia has no doubts that he’s going to win: “I watch me catch him with a left hook and then goodnight.” Davis promised his opponent that he would “break his jaw. Don’t bring your mother and daughter.”

Soon “King” Ryan Garcia and Gervonta “Tank” Davis will try to carry out their plans. Both are already guaranteed compensation in the double-digit millions range. For a while it looked like the winner would go home with everything and the loser with nothing. The Mexicans and the Americans talked about this in a live stream, but according to Garcia it didn’t end up being a bet. He was ready, he was so sure of victory. Then he added forgivingly, “I wouldn’t have taken his money anyway. I don’t want him to go bankrupt. You’ve worked too hard for it and been through a lot, I wouldn’t do that to you.”