A lot to my skilled detriment, I’ve by no means been one to toe an organization line. My “facet” in any boxing subject has all the time been the facet I see as the reality. And, generally, that pisses individuals off. Truly, it pisses lots of people off fairly often.
At any time when I get a message or e mail from somebody telling me how a lot they love my work and even how they’re my no. 1 fan, I do know it’s most likely solely a matter of time earlier than they begin hurling indignant insults at me and pledging to by no means learn me once more. This has occurred approach too ceaselessly throughout my profession and certainly far more usually than it occurs to the BWAA massive pictures who get all the large gigs, however generate all the eagerness of an article in Crochet World journal.
After I first began writing, I used to be identified by many as a “Floyd Mayweather man” as a result of I appeared to be on his “facet” throughout that point. He WAS unjustly criticized and judged by a biased institution media brimming with double requirements. However once I began criticizing sure Mayweather issues, the Mayweather individuals wrote me off.
Like I mentioned, this has occurred so much. No person, apparently, desires their sacred cows touched.
Nicely, there are not any sacred cows for me once I’m on the job.
So, okay, now let’s speak about Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
I’m a fan. I really like to observe him combat. I really like HOW he fights. I really like the concept he’s an actual, legit grassroots-grown attraction, perhaps the one star of his variety on this present US boxing scene.
However I’ve to say that I took the announcement that Tank can be combating Lamont Roach on December 14 nearly in addition to I took my constructive COVID check two days earlier than I used to be set to go to Vegas.
As I wrote over at my different gig (www.boxingnews.co):
“Roach is an efficient fighter, however he’s solely an appropriate opponent for Tank Davis if he’s the stay-busy, calm down combat between true top-tier light-weight/junior welterweight opposition. Up to now, the most important win on Roach’s resume was his shut, WBA tremendous featherweight title-winning effort versus former Davis fall man, Hector Luis Garcia final November. The 29-year-old’s different greatest combat was a 2019 unanimous resolution loss to Jamel Herring in a bid for Herring’s WBO tremendous featherweight title.”
Except for Roach’s aggressive worthiness for Tank, there’s the stone chilly reality that he simply doesn’t have the form of star presence one would count on from a legit pay-per-view B-side combating somebody who many argue is the “Face of Boxing.”
“Face of Boxing” or not, Davis is unquestionably one of many prime three of 4 faces of boxing and, legitimately, the American “Face” of US boxing in the meanwhile. And, as such, everybody involves count on Davis versus one other star.
You don’t see the AAA minor league baseball champion Omaha Storm Chasers fast-tracked to a World Collection berth. If we’re treating pay-per-view fundamental occasions because the elite reveals they’re alleged to be, then we shouldn’t see a relatively unknown coming from a ProBoxTV card right into a combat for which followers are being requested to pay 80 bucks (or extra).
Sorry. We are able to kinda, sorta overlook questions concerning the extent of opposition, as lots of Tank’s fights are, technically, in opposition to fellow champions or highly-ranked opposition. And, as I mentioned, Roach is an efficient fighter. However we shouldn’t overlook the truth that Tank is, once more, combating somebody who NOBODY has been clamoring to see as a pay-per-view rival– as he has carried out in each considered one of his pay-per-view reveals since he turned a PPV headliner, excluding the Ryan Garcia combat.
Additionally from BoxingNews.co:
“Some will argue that Davis is entitled to this specific ‘meh’ headliner. They’ll level to Vasiliy Lomachenko (in)famously passing on a proposed Tank combat as a result of he wasn’t “within the temper.” They’ll then level to Shakur Stevenson, Davis’ different rumored big-fight opponent, shifting on to Matchroom Boxing and, in consequence, away from a Davis conflict.
Admittedly, eradicating Lomachenko and Stevenson from the record of potential opponents drastically diminishes big-fight choices for the three-division world champ. However there ought to be a “no gimme,” no “who’s that man?” rule for all prime stars competing at Davis’ degree, particularly contemplating that fighters solely compete a few times a 12 months as of late…and particularly, ESPECIALLY contemplating that Davis and his individuals intend on slapping an enormous pay-per-view price ticket on the present.”
Followers deserve higher than the promise of yet one more virtuoso efficiency. And, yeah, Tank Davis deserves an even bigger, higher showcase for his distinctive expertise.
Acquired one thing for Magno? Ship it right here: paulmagno@theboxingtribune.com
