Fight Week: Gervonta Davis vs. Hector Luis Garcia kicks off new year
FIGHT WEEK
Lightweight contender Gervonta Davis is scheduled to face Hector Luis Garcia in the first big fight of the new year on pay-per-view Saturday.
GERVONTA DAVIS (27-0, 25 KOs) vs. HECTOR LUIS GARCIA (16-0, 10 KOs)
When: Saturday, Jan. 7
Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.
TV/Stream: Pay-per-view ($74.99)
Division: Lightweight (135 pounds)
At stake: No major titles
Pound-for-pound ranking: Davis No. 10
Odds: Davis 10-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
Also on the card: Jaron Ennis vs. Karen Chukhadzhian, welterweights; Rashidi Ellis vs. Roiman Villa, welterweights; Demetrius Andrade vs. Demond Nicholson, super middleweights
Prediction: Davis KO 8
Background: The main event seemed to be in jeopardy after Davis was arrested Tuesday for allegedly striking the mother of his child – who later walked back her accusations – but the fight will go forward as scheduled. The 28-year-old from Baltimore has a lethal combination of ability and power to go with a massive social following, which has made him one of the biggest stars in the sport. He has beaten in succession Leo Santa Cruz (130 pounds), Mario Barrios (140), Isaac Cruz (135) and Rolando Romero (135), all by knockout except for Cruz. The Mexican took Davis the distance in part because Davis fought with an injured hand. Davis and Ryan Garcia have agreed to meet in a super fight early this year, assuming “Tank” wins Saturday. Hector Garcia also commands respect. The 31-year-old Dominican, skillful and aggressive, stunned the boxing world by easily outpointing hot contender Chris Colbert in the Upset of the Year last February and then defeated Roger Gutierrez by a wide decision in August to win a 130-pound belt. The fact he’s moving up in weight to face a fighter the caliber of Davis could be a significant disadvantage.
ALSO FIGHTING THIS WEEK
FRIDAY
Masataki Taniguchi vs. Melvin Jerusalem, strawweights (for Taniguchi’s WBO title), Osaka, Japan (no U.S. TV). Also, Daniel Valladares vs. Ginjiro Shigeoka, strawweights (for Valladares’ IBF title)
