Fight Week: Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia set for clash of young stars
FIGHT WEEK
Gervonta Davis will face Ryan Garcia in a pay-per-view battle of hot, young stars Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
GERVONTA DAVIS (28-0, 26 KOS)
VS. RYAN GARCIA (23-0, 19 KOS)
When: Saturday, April 22
Time: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
TV/Stream: Pay-per-view ($84.99)
Division: 136-pound catch weight
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: Davis No. 10
Odds: Davis 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: David Morrell Jr. vs. Yamaguchi Falcao, super middleweights; Gabriel Rosado vs. Bektemir Melikuziev, super middleweights; Elijah Garcia vs. Kevin Salgado, middleweights
Prediction: Davis KO 9
Background: One of the biggest possible matchups in the sport is at hand. The principals don’t have deep resumes but their ability – including one-punch knockout power – and popularity is undeniable. Davis is the more-proven commodity of the two, with titles in two divisions and victories over such capable opponents as Leo Santa Cruz, Mario Barrios, Isaac Cruz, Rolando Romero and Hector Luis Garcia (this past January) in his last five fights. Only Cruz went the distance, in part because Davis fought with an injured hand. Many believe the 28-year-old from Baltimore has the all-around ability and fan appeal to become the face of the sport. Garcia might be known best for his good looks and social media following but, like Davis, he’s gifted, was a top amateur and has crushing power. The 24-year-old product of the Southern California desert got up from a knockdown to stop Olympic champion Luke Campbell with a body shot in Round 7, his break-through victory. He followed that with a decision over Emmanuel Tagoe a year ago and a knockout of Javier Fortuna last July. Davis deserves to be favored but Garcia is no pushover. The fighters have a combined record of 51-0 (45 KOs)
SHAVKATDZHON RAKHIMOV vs. (17-0-1, 14 KOS)
VS. JOE CORDINA (15-0, 9 KOS)
When: Saturday, April 22
Time: 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff, Wales
TV/Stream: DAZN
Division: Junior lightweight (130 pounds)
At stake: Rakhimov’s IBF title
Pound-for-pound ranking: None
Odds: Cordina 2½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Gavin Gwynne vs. Craig Woodruff, lightweights; Zelfa Barrett vs. Alex Dilmaghani, junior lightweights; Sandy Ryan vs. Marie-Pier Houle, welterweights (for vacant WBO title); Jordan Thompson vs. Luke Watkins, cruiserweights
Prediction: Cordina UD
Background: Cordina first made his name in the amateur ranks, culminating with his appearance in the 2016 Olympics. The Welshman was knocked off in the second round. His break-through professional victory came in June of last year, when he stopped Kenichi Ogawa in two rounds to win the IBF 130-pound title in Wales. He never defended it. He was scheduled to face mandatory challenger Rakhimov on Nov. 5 but had to pull out because of a hand injury that required surgery, after which he was stripped of his belt. Rakhimov fought Zelfa Barrett on that date in Abu Dhabi, winning by ninth-round knockout to claim the vacant IBF title. So instead of defending against Rakhimov, Cordina will be challenging the new champion from Tajikistan. Rakhimov also has a solid amateur background, reaching the third round of the 2013 World Championships. The 28-year-old, who lives and trains in Los Angeles, has won two consecutive fights since he drew with then-IBF beltholder Joseph Diaz Jr. in February 2021.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
WEDNESDAY
Luis Collazo vs. Angel Ruiz, welterweights, Plant City, Florida (ProBox TV)
FRIDAY
Jamie Morrissey vs. Kevin Cronin, light heavyweights, Galway, Ireland (ESPN+)
George Acosta vs. Blas Ezequiel Caro, junior lightweights, Ontario, California (Thompson Boxing Facebook and YouTube)
JMX vs. Le’Veon Bell, cruiserweights, New Orleans (DAZN)
SATURDAY
Lukasz Rozanski vs. Alen Babic, bridgerweights (for vacant WBC title), Rzeszow, Poland
(No TV in U.S.)
