_1638411487.jpg)
Gervonta Davis was surprised to learn last week that Ryan Garcia decided to skip what was supposed to be a tune-up fight for Davis’ rival January 28.
Garcia was tentatively scheduled to fight Filipino lightweight Mercito Gesta that night. The undefeated Davis is immeasurably better than Gesta (33-3-3, 17 KOs), but Gesta at least is left-handed, like Davis, and would’ve given Garcia some rounds with a southpaw before he could head toward a much more dangerous showdown versus Davis.
Baltimore’s Davis and Garcia, of Victorville, California, have agreed to fight later next year, perhaps as early as April 15, at a catch weight of 136 pounds. Their 12-round bout is contingent upon Davis defeating Hector Luis Garcia in their 12-round fight for Davis’ WBA world lightweight title January 7 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Ryan Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) last fought July 16, when he dropped Dominican veteran Javier Fortuna (37-4-1, 26 KOs, 2 NC) three times on his way to a sixth-round knockout at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Garcia didn’t give a reason when he announced he won’t take a bout before he could face Davis.
A critical Davis gave an honest assessment of Ryan Garcia’s choice to skip the Gesta fight Wednesday during an open workout at 5th Street Gym in Miami Beach, Florida.
“I think Ryan’s being lazy not taking a fight before our fight,” Davis said. “I don’t know. When he was coming up, he was in the gym and everything, and now he’s got some money and a little bit of fame, and he’s partying and stuff like that. It happens to a majority of us, but it’s for him to tighten up before it’s too late.”
Davis-Ryan Garcia is considered one of the biggest fights in boxing from a commercial standpoint. If the favored Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) can defeat Hector Luis Garcia (16-0, 10 KOs, 3 NC) in their Showtime Pay-Per-View main event, the outcome of his trial scheduled to start February 16 in Baltimore could determine the date of his fight against Ryan Garcia.
The 28-year-old Davis will face charges related to 14 misdemeanor motor vehicle violations he allegedly committed during a hit-and-run accident that occurred in November 2020 in his hometown. Davis allegedly drove his Lamborghini through a red light and collided with a Toyota Solara, in which four occupants sustained recoverable injuries, and left the scene before authorities arrived.
If Davis-Ryan Garcia happens, however, Davis hopes it encourages their undefeated contemporaries to take comparable risks.
“I am hoping that the Ryan Garcia fight will open up doors for everyone to make more big fights,” Davis said. “It also shows that I’m not ducking anybody.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.