Gervonta Davis gives Ryan Garcia shove, has words with Bernard Hopkins during spicy weigh-in
Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia took advantage of one more opportunity to be nasty to one another before their pay-per-view fight Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Davis and Garcia both made the agreed-upon catch weight of 136 pounds, Davis coming in at 135.1 and Garcia weighing 135.5.
The fighters then engaged their final faceoff before they receive instructions from the referee in the ring.
Their words were unintelligible because of the din created by a large crowd outside T-Mobile. However, it was clear they had a lot to say and talked over one another.
Bernard Hopkins, a member of Garcia’s promotional team, evidently said something to Davis that upset the fighter. “Tank” turned to the Hall of Famer and they exchanged words.
Davis then turned back to Garcia, they continued to talk and Davis gave Garcia a shove, which prompted promoter Tom Brown to step between them and effectively end the formal portion of the weigh-in.
Davis was asked afterward about the exchange with Hopkins.
“He just needs to sit back and let the younger [fighters] do it,” he said and then reiterated what he planned to do to Garcia. “Punishment, knockout. It’s going to be crazy. Don’t blink your eye, don’t get no popcorn, don’t get no drink. None of that.
“Make sure y’all are focused on the fight because it’s going to be an incredible fight.”
Meanwhile, Garcia was asked how he felt after the weigh-in. The Los Angeles-area fighter agreed to come down to 136 after fighting at 140 his last two bouts.
“I feel good right now,” he said. “I had breakfast this morning so I feel strong.”
And what happened between Davis and Hopkins?
“I don’t really know, to be honest,” Garcia said. “He and Bernard just started to get into it and it became something crazy. I was focused, I’m staying focused. I’m ready to do my job.”
He went on: “I don’t have much to say. My focus now is just on Gervonta Davis. … I’m ready to destroy him. That’s it.”
The featured portion of the show begins at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT.
