By Chris Williams: Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis says he doesn’t want George Kambosos Jr’s four lightweight belts. As far as Tank is concerned, the Australian fighter can keep his titles, and he’ll whip his backside for free.
Kambosos, 28, is fishing around looking for an opponent for the first title defense of his four straps after beating IBF/WBA/WBC Franchise/WBO lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez by a 12 round split decision last Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Teofimo looked like a dead man walking at the weigh-in, and it’s not surprising that he lost the fight. For anyone that knows what it’s like to lose 15 to 20 lbs of water weight the week of a fight, it’s torture, and it’s hard to be anywhere near 100% after putting your body through that.
“Tell him to hold his belts. I’ll whoop his a** for free,” said Gervonta Davis about Kambosos.
Tank (25-0, 24 KOs) was told that Kambosos (20-0, 10 KOs) is potentially interested in fighting him, but he doesn’t mind. He doesn’t want his titles, and it’s understandable why.
Unlike some fighters, Tank, 27, doesn’t need a mess of titles to be validated in the eyes of the boxing public. Collecting belts doesn’t translate into increased popularity. Ask Terence Crawford about that. He’ll tell you.
Having all those titles is trouble because the unbeaten superstar Tank would be stuck fighting a bunch of no-name contenders and have to pay the exorbitant sanctioning fees to the alphabet governing bodies like Kambosos will soon be doing.
Kambosos hasn’t announced yet who he’ll be fighting next, but I sure as heck don’t expect it to be Tank Davis. The Australian is brave, but he’s not dumb. If Kambosos faces Gervonta in the first defense of his four belts, he’ll lose them right away and be back at the bottom of the ladder.
Once Kambosos loses his titles, Chris Williams doesn’t see him EVER recapturing another world title. He’s too basic, flawed, and weak to beat a non-weight drained fighter with power.
You can argue the only reason Kambosos beat Teofimo is that the guy had had a terrible year with catching COVID-19, sitting inactive for 13 months, putting on muscle weight, and dealing with a lot of stress in his life.
On top of that, Teofimo had a bicep injury and asthma. It was a witches brew of problems that Teofimo was saddled with going into the fight with Kambosos, and it’s a miracle that he made it the complete 12 rounds without falling apart.
If Kambosos fights any of the top lightweights in his first defense, he’s going to get obliterated. His promoter Lou DiBella will likely steer him towards safer waters for two or three milking title defenses.
DiBella won’t throw Kambosos to the dogs, knowing that he can make lots of green from Australian PPV and fighting in stadiums.
“He throws more punches. That’s why I probably said that,” said Davis about Pitbull Cruz being a busier fighter than Rolly Romero. “He’s shorter, I wouldn’t say stronger, but he can hit. He’s someone that is going to be there.
“When I was in the amateurs, I fought a lot of smaller guys. Even when I was pro, I fought shorter guys. I just need to adapt with whoever I’m in the ring with.
“If someone beats me, it’s going to be someone that is game. It’s not going to be because of me. It’s not going to be because of me sleeping on the next person. It’s going to be someone that beats me and is a better person than me,” said Gervonta.
“I’m definitely willing to give him a shot and give him some money,” said Tank Davis when asked about fighting Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero.