By Dan Ambrose: Leo Santa Cruz has bad news for Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis in letting him know that he WON’T be coming up to 135 to challenge him for his WBA ‘regular’ lightweight title. Davis (23-0, 22 KOs) was hoping that Santa Cruz would come up to 135 to challenge him for his title, but that’s not going to happen.
Santa Cruz says only had one fight at 130 since moving up to the weight class last November. He’s not ready to move up to another weight class yet. Unfortunately for Santa Cruz, Davis is already struggling to make the 135-lb lightweight limit after just one fight.
Tank Davis already having problems making at 135
In Tank’s first fight at lightweight last December, he came in at 136¼ in the first weigh-in attempt for his fight against Yuriorkis Gamboa. Davis did eventually make weight, but it was surprising to see him already struggling to the division.
It’s likely to be a non-starter if Santa Cruz insists that Davis melts down to 130 to fight him, but we’ll see. Perhaps Davis will be willing to drain down to 130 to fight Santa Cruz for the big payday that’ll get. With Davis’ punching power, he’d be problems for Santa Cruz even if he is weight drained at 130.
Santa Cruz: Ryan Garcia will be ready for Tank Davis in 2021
“Probably next year,” said Santa Cruz when asked if Ryan Garcia will fight Tank Davis in 2020. “In two more fights, I think he’ll [Ryan] be ready, but right now he needs more experience. I think he’ll be ready maybe next year [to face Tank Davis].
Ryan Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) wants a fight against Gervonta in 2020, but that may not happen. Besides the experience factor that could hold Ryan back, the COVID 19 pandemic is wiping out fights with the promoters postponing them.
A lot of boxing fans believe that Tank Davis would be too strong for the upright Ryan. Golden Boy Promotions would be throwing Ryan to the wolves if they let him fight Tank Davis right now. They’re too smart for that. Santa Cruz would likely beat Ryan if the two of them fought right now.
Leo Santa Cruz: 130 is my weightÂ
“I’m going to beat him, so I don’t think Ryan is going to be able to get him,” said Santa Cruz on his opinion that he’ll beat Tank Davis first. “I’m going to go out there and beat him, and then I’ll probably have to move up to 135.
“130, that’s my weight right now. I already had one fight at 130. So I don’t think it’s correct right now to move up to 135,” said Santa Cruz. “I’ll do it when it’s time, and I know I’m ready. When my body feels good, I’ll move up to 135, but not right now,”s said Santa Cruz.
So there it is. Santa Cruz is letting Tank Davis know that if he wants to fight him, he’ll need to come down to super featherweight. That is Tank’s old weight class, and he should be able to still make the weight. The question is will Tank be willing to work hard, deny himself food and drain down to 130 for the Santa Cruz fight?
Davis might view himself as the A-side in a fight with Santa Cruz. In that case, he wouldn’t feel the need to accommodate his wishes. Tank Davis has a lot of other interesting opponents for him to fight at 135 and 140, and he doesn’t need Santa Cruz. The way Santa Cruz looked in beating Miguel Flores last November, he’s not going to last long as champion.
Santa Cruz worried his next fight could get postponed
“I feel upset because I feel ready and I wanted to fight already,” said Santa Cruz about the coronavirus potentially postponing his next fight. “If it keeps happening, I think my fight will keep getting pushed more and more. I’m worried that I’ll need to fight at the end of the year or close to the end of the year.
“I’m training so that when they say ‘are you ready to fight?’ I’ll say, ‘Yes, I’m ready to fight. It’s dangerous for my dad because his immune system is really weak, and he gets sick very fast. I told him not to come to the gym right now.
“This week I’m going to do light training stuff, and then when my hard training starts, he will come I’m at the house. I only go out to get food or something or the gym, and the home, that’s it. I’m not going where there’ a lot of people,” said Santa Cruz.
If any fights get made, it’ll be in the summer, and only then if the virus has disappeared. It’s worrisome that coronavirus is spreading in Australia with the temperatures in the 70s and 80s F. It’s a myth that you can’t get the flu during warm weather.
One reason why more people catch the flu during the winter is that people are stuck inside due to bad weather, and they shop for the holidays and attend parties.
The coronavirus could very stay around through the summer just as the 1918 Spanish Flu continued to kill people year-round regardless of the weather. That virus stayed in circulation for 3 years. If Santa Cruz is hoping that he’ll be able to fight at the end of the year, he may be disappointed.