It finally feels real. After a long and rocky road through the negotiation process, Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Ryan “King Ry” Garcia are confirmed to be fighting one another April 22 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Wednesday, the two fighters showed up in New York City to stir up interest in the event’s kickoff press conference.
“I think this is important because we’re both young,” the 28-year-old Davis told media. “Both of us are at our peak. A lot of young fighters don’t fight each other. We both made our name coming up and the time is now. We’re both great fighters and we put it all on the line.
“All I have to do is keep working and beat whoever they put in front of me. That starts with Ryan Garcia.
“My strategy is going to depend on what he brings that night. Whether he’s coming fast or slow, I always want to take my time. It all depends on what he brings.
“This is going to be an explosive fight,” continued Davis. “It’s two young guys who are hungry. It’s all about who wants it more. Whoever is really built like that, that’s who’s going to win. Nobody can fight for him. It’s about who’s got that dog in them.”
“This is a fight that I’ve been wanting for a very long time,” the 24-year-old Garcia said. “To be a champion, you have to beat the best. It’s not about the titles, it’s about who you beat. It’s a testimony to the respect I have for Gervonta as a fighter
“We really came together and conquered the poison that’s been stopping boxing from making the biggest fights. We found a way.
“April 22 is the time where the words won’t matter anymore. The truth will come out. We’re both great fighters and we’ll settle it in the ring.
“If you look at boxing, it’s been hard to get prime fighters together. It usually happens too late. This is a moment that boxing has been longing for. You really can’t make a bigger fight than this.
“This is a defining moment in our careers. This is about legacy. This is about who really wants the crown.
Among the noteworthy noncombatants speaking at Wednesday’s press conference was president of Showtime Sports, Stephen Espinoza, who was part of the roster of professionals working hard to piece together the deal that allowed this fight to be made.
Espinoza, however, was firm in giving all credit to the fighters, themselves, who pushed to get this bout happen.
“When a fight this big gets made, there is no shortage of people rushing to take credit. ‘Tank’ Davis and Ryan Garcia deserve the credit for this fantastic event. Throughout the long negotiating process, they never wavered. They remained focused, refused to take the easy way out and take other opportunities, and delivered what the sport and the fans wanted.”
The Showtime exec also showed a good amount of optimism that this much-anticipated pairing would lead to even greater things in the future.
“This fight is the rising tide that lifts all boats,” Espinoza affirmed. “There is an enthusiasm that permeates everything else. It elevates the level of action.
“This fight is one of the cornerstones of our very ambitious 2023 schedule. It’s a battle of the two most popular young fighters in the sport, two fighters in their athletic prime and two of the most exciting fighters in any weight division. Put that together and you have the biggest fight that is on the boxing schedule.”
Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia is a joint Showtime/DAZN pay-per-view event, taking place April 22, live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
