By Tim Royner: Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis says he’s going to move up to 140 and take on IBF/WBC light welterweight champion Josh Taylor for his straps after he faces Yuriorkis Gamboa on December 28.
The only question is will Taylor agree to face Gervonta? Taylor might say that Gervonta needs to prove himself at lightweight before he agrees to face him at 140. Beating Gamboa should be more than enough for Tank Davis to prove that he deserves a title shot against Taylor at 140.
We’ll see if Gervonta’s power carries up from super featherweight to lightweight when he faces the 37-year-old Gamboa on December 28 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Gerogia. The fight will be shown LIVE on Showtime. If Davis obliterates Gamboa, then Taylor will have a lot to worry about. Taylor’s 15 minutes could be up VERY soon.
Will Taylor agree to face Gervonta?
You can’t blame Taylor if he decides to dash in the other direction. After all, Taylor was on the run last Saturday when Regis Prograis started bringing the head in the championship rounds. Taylor’s right was as closed, and Prograis was battering him. Gervonta is like a better version of Prograis in this writer’s view. All the mistakes that Prograis made against Taylor, Gervonta won’t do them.
After 135 I’ll move up to 140 and fight Josh Taylor
— Gervonta Davis (@Gervontaa) October 28, 2019
It looks like Tank Davis (22-0, 21 KOs) wants to put things right by avenging the loss of talented American Regis Prograis (24-1, 20 KOs), who met with defeat last Saturday night against Taylor (16-0, 12 KOs) at the O2 Arena in London, England. Gervonta has the kind of power to make easy work of Josh Taylor.
The Scottish fighter’s boxing fans might not realize what kind of threat Gervonta poses for Taylor, but they’ll find out after he faces Gamboa on December 28th. Davis is on another level. He punches like a heavyweight, and he’ll be a nightmare for Taylor.
Taylor beat Prograis to win Ali Trophy
Fighting in front of a friendly crowd filled with his Scottish fans, Taylor beat Prograis by a 12 round majority to win the World Boxing Super Series tournament. The results were controversial as it appeared that Prograis had done enough to either edge it or deserve a draw. There was still a lot of things Prograis should have done to convince the judges that he deserved to have his hand raised. Gervonta won’t hold back.
Davis’ promoters at Mayweather Promotions will need to give him the green light to take on Taylor for his titles. They’ll likely let Gervonta take the fight, because it’s the fastest way for him to build himself into a star. By avenging Prograis’ loss, Gervonta will be ready to take over the throne vacated by Floyd Mayweather Jr. after he retired from the game.