Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia | Showtime PPV - April 22, 2023

[margaret thatcher]

major props to these dudes, but seriously wtf were they wearing. garcia especially looked like he had grandma jeans on

[Evander]

Must have been a coat sale going on somewhere close.

Garcia didn't look intimated by Davis at all and towered over him.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Presser

“When I say things like second round, you asked me for a prediction and I gave you one. I’m gonna be ready for 12,” Garcia said about his previous statement that he’d stop Davis in two. “You have to respect the fighter going in, you can’t just jump in and expect a knockout. It might be more of a thinking fight than people expect. There’s a lot of intricacies in fights that cause you to make adjustments. I don’t know how I’m gonna come out.”

Gervonta jumped in, saying simply, “You was talkin’ out your ass.”

“Somebody has to promote it,” Garcia fired back, noting Davis’ lateness to today’s event.

“He’s getting an ass-whooping. That’s what he’s getting,” Davis replied.

“I’ll guarantee you a classic. It’s gonna be a classic fight. I guarantee that. You’ll remember it for a long time,” Garcia said in his final statement.

“An explosive fight. Two young guys that are hungry. It’s just who wants it more,” Davis said. “Who’s built like that? That’s who’s gonna win. That’s who’s already won. Nobody can fight for him, nobody can fight for me. It’s about who’s really got that dog in him. That’s who’s gonna win.”

Gervonta Davis
“We’re back at it. We’ve got another dance partner. Coming up, I watched Floyd and Oscar, also Bernard Hopkins, Joe Goossen. It’s gonna be tough. This fight’s gonna be tough. This is what we came to do.”

“I’m just happy to be part of this moment, sharing the ring with a young fighter like Ryan Garcia who’s willing to dare himself to be great. He talked his way into this fight, and now he’s gonna have to be able to show it.”

“I’m just happy to be a part of this fight, this event.”

“I have a great team. They’ve kept me up. I’ve been keeping my head down, stay grinding, in and out of the gym. We have a lot of people that talked down on us, but we stayed focus and kept our head down, and continued to grind. That’s what really matters.”

“Both of us are young. I’m a little older than Ryan, but I think that both of us are at our peak. A lot of young fighters don’t fight each other. This is a stepping stone for the other younger fighters to get in the ring with each other. We both made our name coming up, and the time is now.

“He’s a great fighter. I’m a great fighter. We’re putting it all on the line.”

“(Critics) will always find something else to say. All I gotta do is keep my head down and continue to grind, beat whoever they put in front of me. That starts with Ryan Garcia.”

“If he comes in fast, or he comes in slow, I always want to take my time. It all depends on Ryan Garcia and what he brings.”

Ryan Garcia
“We’ve come together and conquered the poisoned that’s stopping boxing from having the biggest fights. It wasn’t easy, but we found a way.”

“For me, to be a champion, you have to beat the best. It’s not about the titles, it’s about who you beat. For me, it’s a testimony to the respect I’ve got for him as a fighter. I believe he’s one of the best, and I’ve had that mentality since I was a young kid. I never thought about the weight class, I thought about who was in it. I wanted to be the best.”

“I put boxing first and the fans first. I had to accept a lot of stipulations. Going down in weight, a rehydration clause. But I said, ‘If I put myself first, I should say no,’ but my heart don’t let me. I’ve got the character of a champion.”

“I don’t look like I hit hard, but I do hit hard. The punches, they just come quick, and when they hit you, you’re down.”

“This is the time where the words don’t matter no more. The truth will come out. He’s a great fighter, I’m a great fighter, we’ll settle it in the ring.”

“It’s been hard to get top fighters together. Usually it’s too late or somebody’s way past their prime. Boxing has been waiting for this for a while. You really can’t make a bigger fight than this. I feel like this is the moment for both of us. This is a defining moment in our careers, this is legacy. We finally got it, two prime fighters together, going at it. This is the moment for both of us.”

“Obviously Tank has the image of a devastating puncher, dangerous, and to me he’s a great fighter. Within myself, I know for sure what type of fighter I am. I’ve been doing this since I was seven, over 200 amateur fights. This is what I’ve always wanted. This is it. I think (this is) destroying (people) judging the book by its cover. I’m an easy person to target. ‘He’s not serious, he’s doing TikToks,’ whatever, but I wouldn’t be here if that was true. If that was my main focus, I wouldn’t be on this stage. This is the fight right here.”

“The struggles of making this fight and the things that had to be done, how long it was dragging out, I just didn’t want to put it at risk (by taking a January fight). Not for a loss, but you can hurt your hand, headbutts, lot of different issues that could occur. I chose not to, to secure this fight and make sure it was guaranteed. I didn’t wait that long just to mess it up at the finish line.”

Joe Goossen, Garcia’s trainer
“Everyone else has talked about these two men, and they’re gonna go down in history, they’re gonna make history. This is an incredible pairing of two guys at this level. You don’t see it too often. You don’t want to miss out on this one. This is one I would plunk down the money for and pay for it. I can’t wait to be a part of it. I can’t wait for that night.”

Calvin Ford, Davis’ trainer
“Ryan, I want to thank you, man. Y’all don’t know how important this fight is, y’all. This Generation X, they’re bringing boxing back.” (This is not Generation X.)

“This fight isn’t about us, it’s about the next generation of boxing. Two great, young fighters, undefeated, ready to do their thing. After this fight, who’s gonna sit on that throne? Who’s gonna get the passing of the torch?”

“We’ve been waiting for something like this for years. This is the fight that’s gonna make the other fighters fight, to show y’all how it’s done. Man, y’all got me trembling. I can’t wait for that night.”

“Going against a great coach. You were smart, getting an old school coach.”

“Y’all gotta embrace this energy right here. (Garcia) is the ‘King,’ but (Tank’s) the savage of this thing. Y’all are gonna get a great fight, man.”

Tom Brown, TGB Promotions
“Unlike Luke Campbell, if Tank Davis puts you on your ass, you’re not getting up.”

Bernard Hopkins, Golden Boy Promotions
“This fight has the ingredients and also because of the two fighters, who will be future Hall of Famers, want to prove that come April. Enjoy it. Like I said, this is the top of the year of the biggest fight of this year. And the biggest fight even before it got to this point. We all should treat it that way again. Enjoy the fight. And tell everybody to tune in to this one.”

Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Promotions
“One word that really comes to mind is ‘mega-fight.’ The word gets thrown around a lot when somebody hears a pay-per-view is happening. There’s some boxing insiders who will call it a mega-fight, just because it’s on pay-per-view. But how often will you get two guys who are undefeated, two fighters who have huge fan bases, two fighters who are early in the peak of their career, and two guys that are represented by different companies, different broadcasters. To me, that’s what a mega-fight is all about. Bringing everyone together.

“The best two fighters in their weight division in that same ring, and getting everyone together to work together for a big, mega-fight. That’s what it’s all about.”

“This is one that the world is not gonna miss. Trust me, when we were promoting fights back in the day with Mayweather and myself and everybody, those big mega-fights is what made boxing. When two personalities come into the ring together and create the perfect storm. That’s exactly what they’re gonna do, create the perfect storm.

“And yeah obviously, I’m with my guy. This is the reason why we’re gonna bring back those glory days, those big, pay-per-view glory days, because of Ryan Garcia.

“These two guys are gonna battle it out, they’re gonna fight. They wanted this fight. Nobody else. Ryan Garcia wanted this fight years ago. And now it’s here. May the best man win. I have a lot of respect for Tank. He’s an amazing fighter, a great fighter, he’s a special fighter. And I have a lot of respect for Ryan Garcia, he’s a great fighter and a special fighter, as well.”

Stephen Espinoza, Showtime Sports
“This fight is one of the cornerstones of our very ambitious 2023 schedule. It’s a battle of two of the most popular young fighters in the sport, two fighters in their primes, two of the most exciting fighters in any weight division. Put that together, and you have the biggest fight on the boxing schedule.”

“While Tank might be one of the biggest punchers pound-for-pound in the sport of boxing, Ryan certainly may be one of the fastest.”

“John F. Kennedy famously said, ‘Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.’ When a fight this big gets made, no shortage of people rush to take credit. But as someone involved, I can tell you who deserves most of the credit: Tank Davis and Ryan Garcia.”

“It’s about these two star fighters who have taken it upon themselves to accept the biggest challenge of their careers.”

Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather Promotions
“I remember Ryan once came up to me and said, ‘I wanna F your boy up.’ I said, ‘Look here, slim, you don’t want none of that work.’ And he told me this was the fight he really, really wanted. That was a few years ago.”

“Tank has been very adamant about getting this guy in the ring. When you’ve got two young, undefeated guys coming together, it’s gonna be nothing but fireworks.”

“When it comes down to it, the fighters gotta want it. If it was up to (Ryan’s) promoters, this fight would not be happening, so we gotta give the fighters all the credit. Ryan forced his promoters to make this happen.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

De La Hoya: "I Believe Davis-Garcia Can Break 2.4M PPV Buys Me & Mayweather Did"

“I truly feel in terms of numbers and business, I really do feel this is like Mayweather-De La Hoya,” De La Hoya told a group of reporters following a press conference Wednesday at Palladium Times Square. “I believe it can do – you know, people called me crazy when I said it can do two million homes – I believe it can break 2.4 million homes that me and Mayweather did. It’s that big of a fight.

“Come to think of it, I believe Tank and Ryan, or maybe Tank, is bigger than Mayweather [was] when he fought me, with world titles and he [has] popularity and Instagram followers, and this and that. So, we’re in a different world. We’re in a different, you know, time and, you know, these kids are the very best. And the fact that they’re fighting each other, it creates the perfect storm.”

[apollo creed]

Its a very hyped fight bc of both names. Both fighters have padded lackluster records. But I agree its a big business fight.

Haney vs Loma is the real deal fight.

[sturm vogel]

In this fight Davis is the bull and Garcia the matador. Davis will rush forward without thought which he seems uncapable of; Garcia will stand, consider, wait, and move at the last moment looking to pique Davis at every pass. Davis will puff, stamp, snort, and pout after his misses while Garcia will wait for Davis to weaken and tire after rounds or torment. Disillusioned and distracted, Davis will get desperate rushing in with undefended attacks which will give Garcia openings to gun into. Perhaps the baby bull will be dragged off? Or will the matador make a mistake and get spiked?

[jtourettes]

I dont mind the catch weight, especially since I don't feel it gives either guy a real advantage.

I'm all for the catch weight fights if it mean 2 top fighters facing each other.

We wouldn't complain if Hearns and Leonard fought at a catch weight. A good fight is a good fight. As much as we complain about all the watered down titles, there should be no complaints about catch weight fights when it's a great match up.

I would complain as for me there would always be an asterisk against the win. Catchweights and rehydration clauses are designed to give a fighter the advantage.

It really depends on the situation of both fighters. Rehydration clauses are bullshit regardless. In this case a catchweight with no rehydration clause, I don't see a real advantage to either guy.

I agree about the asterisk next to the fight based on the catchweight. But if that's what it took to get the fight made and both agreed to it, I'm just happy we're getting a good fight.

Hope do you feel now with the announced 10lb rehydration clause? An even bigger asterisk for me.

[apollo creed]

I'm rooting for Ryan but the problem with him is his lack of defensive skills, footwork and that he's fighting too upright leaving his chin up in the air. Tank is a patient sneaky counter puncher that he'll set traps and baits to Ryan.

Both will make lots of M's.

[apollo creed]

I would complain as for me there would always be an asterisk against the win. Catchweights and rehydration clauses are designed to give a fighter the advantage.

It really depends on the situation of both fighters. Rehydration clauses are bullshit regardless. In this case a catchweight with no rehydration clause, I don't see a real advantage to either guy.

I agree about the asterisk next to the fight based on the catchweight. But if that's what it took to get the fight made and both agreed to it, I'm just happy we're getting a good fight.

Hope do you feel now with the announced 10lb rehydration clause? An even bigger asterisk for me.

Rehydration clause and c/w is a strategy to weaken Ryan. Tank fought at 140. BIG props and kudos for Ryan and his team for accepting these crazy demands. Ryan really, really was very adamant to make this fight happen.

[gregregegg]

Ryan garcia could make biggg bucks chinning C and B grade guys every few months... or just influencering... But he has taken a fight on the wrong side of the rematch clause, with the bad side of the weight negotiation and a rehydration clause....

Usyk, Loma and Inoue were My MVPs for just getting shit done...Timmy tszyu and Ryan Garcia might have to join that list of legends... fornicate its nice seeeing people take risks.

[apollo creed]

Ryan garcia could make biggg bucks chinning C and B grade guys every few months... or just influencering... But he has taken a fight on the wrong side of the rematch clause, with the bad side of the weight negotiation and a rehydration clause....

Usyk, Loma and Inoue were My MVPs for just getting shit done...Timmy tszyu and Ryan Garcia might have to join that list of legends... fornicate its nice seeeing people take risks.

Yeah, but IF Garcia will stop Tank, then he would have more leverage and power in the rematch assuming there are not the same contractual stipulations for the rematch too..

[gregregegg]

Ryan garcia could make biggg bucks chinning C and B grade guys every few months... or just influencering... But he has taken a fight on the wrong side of the rematch clause, with the bad side of the weight negotiation and a rehydration clause....

Usyk, Loma and Inoue were My MVPs for just getting shit done...Timmy tszyu and Ryan Garcia might have to join that list of legends... fornicate its nice seeeing people take risks.

Yeah, but IF Garcia will stop Tank, then he would have more leverage and power in the rematch assuming there are not the same contractual stipulations for the rematch too..

You dont make a rematch clause without haivng the rematch terms set. im sure it would be better than the first, but not as good as he could get free market.

[NateJR]

I would complain as for me there would always be an asterisk against the win. Catchweights and rehydration clauses are designed to give a fighter the advantage.

It really depends on the situation of both fighters. Rehydration clauses are bullshit regardless. In this case a catchweight with no rehydration clause, I don't see a real advantage to either guy.

I agree about the asterisk next to the fight based on the catchweight. But if that's what it took to get the fight made and both agreed to it, I'm just happy we're getting a good fight.

Hope do you feel now with the announced 10lb rehydration clause? An even bigger asterisk for me.

Yup, it smells like absolute . I hope Ryan sparks him now.

[lazboy]

Davis looks like a Predator. As in, a Predator from the film franchise.

[Evander]

Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I don't think I have ever seen tickets priced this highly for a boxing match ever.
Bleacher tickets start at around $900 U.S, unless they're giving some of these away I'd imagine it's going to be a very sparse crowd that night.
Who is going to pay this to watch these two fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I don't think I have ever seen tickets priced this highly for a boxing match ever.
Bleacher tickets start at around $900 U.S, unless they're giving some of these away I'd imagine it's going to be a very sparse crowd that night.
Who is going to pay this to watch these two fight.

They care about money, not capacity.

FMJ never used to sell out his arena’s but always got the highest live gates.

[apollo creed]

Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I don't think I have ever seen tickets priced this highly for a boxing match ever.
Bleacher tickets start at around $900 U.S, unless they're giving some of these away I'd imagine it's going to be a very sparse crowd that night.
Who is going to pay this to watch these two fight.

that's a very obscene super inflated price

they both have some padded records and very hyped boxing profiles

[apollo creed]

Ryan garcia could make biggg bucks chinning C and B grade guys every few months... or just influencering... But he has taken a fight on the wrong side of the rematch clause, with the bad side of the weight negotiation and a rehydration clause....

Usyk, Loma and Inoue were My MVPs for just getting shit done...Timmy tszyu and Ryan Garcia might have to join that list of legends... fornicate its nice seeeing people take risks.

Yeah, but IF Garcia will stop Tank, then he would have more leverage and power in the rematch assuming there are not the same contractual stipulations for the rematch too..

You dont make a rematch clause without haivng the rematch terms set. im sure it would be better than the first, but not as good as he could get free market.

thats very true

[Evander]

Unless my eyes are deceiving me, I don't think I have ever seen tickets priced this highly for a boxing match ever.
Bleacher tickets start at around $900 U.S, unless they're giving some of these away I'd imagine it's going to be a very sparse crowd that night.
Who is going to pay this to watch these two fight.

They care about money, not capacity.

FMJ never used to sell out his arena’s but always got the highest live gates.

Bleacher seats for Mayweather v Pacquiao were selling for $500 U.S.
They want 9 bills for this in the bleachers.
The place will be empty.
Surely this has to be a mistake.

[gregregegg]

900 for the cheap seats to squint at it or watch it on the jumbotron…

No way they sell out at those prices, even if it was for undisputed… and surely everyone knows that, so I imagine if people are going to buy them they will wait till last min hoping for a discount.

[AngryGoon38]

It really depends on the situation of both fighters. Rehydration clauses are bullshit regardless. In this case a catchweight with no rehydration clause, I don't see a real advantage to either guy.

I agree about the asterisk next to the fight based on the catchweight. But if that's what it took to get the fight made and both agreed to it, I'm just happy we're getting a good fight.

Hope do you feel now with the announced 10lb rehydration clause? An even bigger asterisk for me.

Rehydration clause and c/w is a strategy to weaken Ryan. Tank fought at 140. BIG props and kudos for Ryan and his team for accepting these crazy demands. Ryan really, really was very adamant to make this fight happen.

What time do they do the rehydration weigh-in...?
As in, how much time before they step into the ring..?
Ryan will obviously weigh-in Right at the 136 catchweight, and then he'll struggle to not gain more than
10 additional lbs thereafter upon the second(rehydration weigh-in). So, He'll weigh 146 lbs, at the 2nd weigh-in.
Basically, Does he have an additional several hours to pack on a few more lbs before walking down the arena aisle..?
I'm assuming he does. I'm emphasizing Ryan Garcia because Tank, being only 5'5-1/2, will easily make 136, and easily make the within 10 lbs Rehydration weigh-in. He'll allready be a stuffed up LiL Bull at 146, while Ryan, being 5'10-1/2, will still be a bit emaciated, even after rehydrating to weighing 146.

He'll probably need to scoff down some carbs just before walking down
The arena aisle. I say carbs because that'd be my personal recommendation to Ryan, as a LiL pre-fight appetizer so to speak. He definitely doesn't want to scoff down a Steak, like Duran did before the second bout versus Leonard.
I'd have Ryan chow down either some mac and cheese, a standard pasta dish, or simply have A few slices of pizza, 2 or 3 hours before heading out to the arena aisle. He'll Need that Carb Blast for the Boxing Battle versus The Mighty Tank Davis.
Otherwise, Ryan will start getting all weak and shakey-legged by the 5th round.

[NateJR]

Hope do you feel now with the announced 10lb rehydration clause? An even bigger asterisk for me.

Rehydration clause and c/w is a strategy to weaken Ryan. Tank fought at 140. BIG props and kudos for Ryan and his team for accepting these crazy demands. Ryan really, really was very adamant to make this fight happen.

What time do they do the rehydration weigh-in...?
As in, how much time before they step into the ring..?
Ryan will obviously weigh-in Right at the 136 catchweight, and then he'll struggle to not gain more than
10 additional lbs thereafter upon the second(rehydration weigh-in). So, He'll weigh 146 lbs, at the 2nd weigh-in.
Basically, Does he have an additional several hours to pack on a few more lbs before walking down the arena aisle..?
I'm assuming he does. I'm emphasizing Ryan Garcia because Tank, being only 5'5-1/2, will easily make 136, and easily make the within 10 lbs Rehydration weigh-in. He'll allready be a stuffed up LiL Bull at 146, while Ryan, being 5'10-1/2, will still be a bit emaciated, even after rehydrating to weighing 146.

He'll probably need to scoff down some carbs just before walking down
The arena aisle. I say carbs because that'd be my personal recommendation to Ryan, as a LiL pre-fight appetizer so to speak. He definitely doesn't want to scoff down a Steak, like Duran did before the second bout versus Leonard.
I'd have Ryan chow down either some mac and cheese, a standard pasta dish, or simply have A few slices of pizza, 2 or 3 hours before heading out to the arena aisle. He'll Need that Carb Blast for the Boxing Battle versus The Mighty Tank Davis.
Otherwise, Ryan will start getting all weak and shakey-legged by the 5th round.

Garcia made a video yesterday showing he's walking around 146 lbs currently. I always hate rehydration clauses, but it might not be as big of a issue as you might think. Garcia is looking healthy and filled out at 146. People seem to think Garcia has a bigger frame than he actually does.

I'd be comfortable to wager that Tank weighs more than Garcia does at the moment.

[Evander]

Numbers don't jive.
I can't ever recall seeing ticket prices this high.
Something not right here.