Fans patiently await the return of Gervonta Davis.
Following a statement win over Ryan Garcia in 2023, ‘Tank’ Davis ran into legal trouble and was placed on house arrest and subsequently in prison, putting his boxing rise on pause.
In the time since he has been elevated to full WBA Lightweight Champion after Devin Haney vacated to move up in weight and has defended that belt with an emphatic stoppage of previously-undefeated Frank Martin.
Talks with fellow champion Vasiliy Lomachenko fell apart when the Ukrainian said he wasn’t motivated to fight again this year and nothing transpired with Shakur Stevenson, either.
Despite the lack of suitable dance partner, ‘Tank’s team has held the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas for November 2.
Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, coach Ricky Funez – who currently corners rising star Hamzah Sheeraz – revealed that the November date will go ahead and hinted as to the opponent.
“I know. I know who he is [fighting next]. It’s gonna be a secret, it’s gonna be out. It’s not public yet but it’ll be in November and I think it’s gonna be in Las Vegas. It’s gonna be against one of Robert Garcia’s fighters.”
Funez is most likely referring to Jose Valenzuela. ‘El Rayo’ recently handily defeated Isaac Cruz to win his WBA Super-Lightweight World Title. It was well known that ‘Tank’ was targeting the rematch with ‘Pitbull’ Cruz after beating him via unanimous decision back in 2021 – just the second time he has been the distance in his campaign.
When Valenzuela upset those plans talk immediately turned to him facing ‘Tank’ instead, although it’s not yet clear who’s belt would be on the line. The 29-year-old puncher from Baltimore has fought at 140 once before, defeating Mario Barrios.
The only issue with the match-up is that Robert Garcia has very recently stated that Valenzuela won’t be out again this year.
“No. November 2 is too soon. Rayo is not going to fight until next year. He was in camp for almost 5 months, had a hard camp, he was getting ready for June 15 and was already in camp and then they changed it to August 3 and he had a long camp, so yeah Nov 2 is too soon. Next year.”
