Gervonta Davis Says You Can’t Just Go For Early Knockouts

Coming up the first weekend in January, multi-division world champ Gervonta Davis will headline the first significant PPV card of 2023. That’s when he will take on unbeaten, rising fighter, Hector Luis Garcia in a Showtime Boxing/PBC main event in Washington D.C.

Davis met with the media at his training site of Miami, FL, on Wednesday and made clear that while he’s confident of victory, you can’t just always look for a quick KO.

“I can’t just go in there and try to knock everyone out right away. I have to show that I have more than just punching power.” @Gervontaa #DavisGarcia 1.7 on SHO 🥊 pic.twitter.com/AnBdcifxFv

— SHOWTIME SPORTS (@SHOsports) December 22, 2022

From the Showtime release for the January 7th PPV,

“Undefeated five-time world champion and boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis held a media workout in Miami on Wednesday as he prepares to defend his WBA Lightweight Title against undefeated world champion Héctor Luis García headlining a SHOWTIME PPV (9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT) on Saturday, January 7 in a Premier Boxing Champions event from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Davis has established himself as one of boxing’s hottest attractions and will need to dispatch the WBA Super Featherweight Champion Héctor Luis García in order to pave the way for the recently announced blockbuster clash against unbeaten star Ryan Garcia in the Spring of 2023.

“[Héctor Luis] Garcia is talking about getting the knockout, but we know he can just say that and end up fighting a different way. We don’t really know what’s going to happen until we get into the ring,” Davis said Wednesday

“Going into a fight, any opponent is dangerous. He’s training hard and I know that someone like [Héctor Luis] Garcia isn’t just someone stepping in. He’s been training for me for a long time. I can’t just go in there and try to knock everyone out right away. I have to show that I have more than just punching power. I have skills to go along with my boxing IQ.”

The 28 year old Davis, 27-0, 25 KOs, is one of the premier knockout artists in the sport. however, three of his last five fights have reached the 11th round or gone the full 12 for a decision. And now, he’s facing a tough contending fighter in Garcia.

Garcia is tested

The 31 year old García (16-0, 10 KOs) is coming off a spectacular upset in February, when he dropped and defeated then-unbeaten Chris Colbert. And as a follow up in August, García captured the his WBA secondary title with a one-sided unanimous decision over veteran champ Roger Gutierrez.

And, Davis realizes that he’s likely in for a tough battle with the Dominican Garcia. Then again, veteran two division world champ Leo Santa Cruz was giving Davis a tough battle, too, in October of 2020. That is until Davis eradicated Santa Cruz with a knockout of the year left uppercut for the KO.

Will something similar be the outcome in Washington D.C. early next month or will Garcia make it tougher?

We’re going to soon find out.