Reporters’ star ratings for main events and undercards are based on in-ring entertainment, competitiveness and whether overall expectation was met
LAS VEGAS
APRIL 22
MAIN EVENT
UNDERCARD
ATMOSPHERE
IF Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis truly became the “new face of boxing” with Saturday’s victory over Ryan Garcia, he did so because he fought with a maturity beyond his years.
After an opening round won by so widely admired an opponent, there appeared the potential for him to be troubled with the naturally bigger Garcia’s range and speed. He instead seamlessly and so convincingly adjusted from the start of the second that the previously undefeated Garcia’s confidence visibly ebbed away.
Punishing the 24-year-old Garcia’s ambition – his long-term rival occupying the centre of the ring and keeping him on the back foot was the only time they fought on Garcia’s terms – he countered him with a left that dropped Garcia to the canvas, and proceeded to suffocate him until the end came.
In what had previously represented his biggest and most difficult fight, against the accomplished Luke Campbell, Garcia had climbed off the canvas to win. But here, over the course of the following five largely one-sided rounds, he proved unable to adjust as he had against Campbell, to the extent that when the stoppage came, it was tempting to conclude he
