Ryan Garcia took to Twitter on Thursday to clear the air around negotiations for his potential tilt against Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
On Monday, it was reported that both fighters had agreed to a framework for a January fight at a catchweight of 136 pounds but that the pay-per-view distributor between Showtime and DAZN remained a sticking point.
“I want to fight Tank and Tank wants to fight me,” said Garcia. “This fight is what boxing needs right now! I accepted all the terms on my side and instructed my team to get it done exactly as offered. The fans deserve this fight. Our sport needs this fight.
“We gotta get this BS figured out. This should have been the best couple of months in boxing. Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford fell apart. Me and Tank running into issues. That’s not what boxing is supposed to be about. Respectfully, celebrity boxing should not be defining our sport.
“Everyone talks about player empowerment in the NBA and other sports leagues. It’s time to have a real conversation about player empowerment in pro boxing.
“I want this fight for my career and, real talk, my mental health. The guys in charge can make this happen. Don’t let this break down. I’m asking on behalf of everyone who loves the most beautiful sport in the world.”
Soon after Garcia vented, ESPN reporter Stephen A. Smith jumped into the conversation and used his megaphone that reaches millions of sports fans to further shine light on the situation.
“I’m on it, Ryan Garcia. You’ve got a supporter in me. You are absolutely right on this issue. You, Davis and Spence-Crawford are exactly what we all need to see. Sick of all this B.S. ‘First Take’ will damn sure represent on this matter. Talk to you soon,” Smith said on Twitter.
Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) and Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) have been engaged in back and forth banter calling for a bout for better parts of the last three years.
A showdown between the two bona fide attractions is on the short list as one of the most appealing super fights boxing has to offer.
Golden Boy Promotions, Garcia’s promoter who has an exclusive deal with DAZN, has insisted in recent months that the streaming service has to be involved in a joint PPV.
Showtime – which has televised Davis’ last 11 fights – feels that they are more than well-equipped to be the sole distributor of the event.
Showtime Sports head Stephen Espinoza commented on the matter on Thursday in an interview with Marcos Villegas on Fight Hub TV.
“I wish I could give you a definitive answer. What I can tell you is that our side will sit at the table for as long as it takes. We’re not walking away. Tank’s not looking at other opportunities. This is going to play out until it’s clear that a deal can or can’t be made,” said Espinoza.
“Tank’s side has made the offer. They are driving the business offering. They have a certain view on how the network should work. And that’s where things are. If DAZN is going to insist on being involved in a certain way, well, that may or may not kill the opportunity. I don’t want that to happen. We’re working for that not happen. But at the same time there are certain business realities.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.