Gervonta Davis Dethrones King Ryan With Seventh Round Body Shot KO
Gervonta Davis became the face of boxing, knocking out Ryan Garcia in the seventh round with a brutal body shot, giving the latter his first professional loss.
The two undefeated fighters went head to head in the biggest fight of 2023. The first round was a cagey affair, with both fighters feeling each other out as Garcia took centre ring.
His jabs attempted to walk Davis down, as the latter used feints and footwork to switch up the angles. Garcia became confident and asserted his early dominance in the next.
A combination got Davis’ attention as he clinched in response. A right hand also followed, but to Garcia’s detriment as his confidence was met with a sharp counter left that put him to the ground.
.@Gervontaa DROPS Ryan in Round 2 😱 #DavisGarcia pic.twitter.com/8Pj5Czovqs
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) April 23, 2023
While Garcia recovered, it was a warning sign of Davis’ power. Garcia continued in the same manner, but Tank began to close the gap, landing to the face and body.
The momentum started to change. Garcia’s failure to effectively utilize his physical advantage was telling. Davis’ footwork outmaneuvered Garcia, despite his success with the right hand.
And in the seventh, it all came to fruition. Garcia threw a right hand while lunging forward, but as he did so, Davis delivered a body shot that caused Garcia to fall with a delayed reaction.
The face of boxing @Gervontaa stops Garcia in round 7 with a VICIOUS body shot 😱 #DavisGarcia pic.twitter.com/8MRrWvBOOQ
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) April 23, 2023
Garcia could not get back on his feet, resulting in a knockout. The result puts Davis as the biggest name in the division, as fights with Devin Haney, Shakur Stevenson and Vasiliy Lomachenko could follow.
As for Garcia a move up to 140 lbs may follow.
Post-Fight Comments
"The job doesn't stop till I retire."
More work to do for the new 👑 @Gervontaa | #DavisGarcia pic.twitter.com/FL8tNZllzi
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) April 23, 2023
“I was excited to be part of this event, I remember coming up in Golden Goves seeing Floyd [Mayweather] perform at the MGM, it was crazy.
“The job is never done until I retire so I’m going to keep my head down and continue to work.
“Once I got in there with him, I felt like skill-wise we were unmatched. My coach was telling me in camp that he would come out with his head up so shoot over the top.
“I saw his facial expression after the body shot and that’s what made me take it to him. I thought was going to get up,” Davis
All class from @RyanGarcia 🙌#DavisGarcia pic.twitter.com/VQIURKtUq0
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) April 23, 2023
“Tank is a great fighter. I take my hat off to him. I know we talked a lot of s*** before, but it’s an honour at the end of the day.
“He just caught me with a good shot, I don’t want to make any excuses in here. I couldn’t recover, I couldn’t breathe, I just couldn’t get up,” Garcia