Ryan Garcia can fight Gervonta Davis at 135 says Floyd Mayweather

By Boxing News - 07/21/2022 - Comments

By Chris Williams: Promoter Floyd Mayweather Jr flat out rejected Ryan Garcia’s request for his fight against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis to be held at 140.

In an interview on Wednesday, Floyd says that if Ryan (23-0, 19 KOs) wants the fight with Tank Davis, he’s got to be ready to make “sacrifices” by dropping down in weight to face him at 135.

Mayweather says he’s ready to make the Davis-Garcia fight in the next 90 days, as long as they agree on it taking place at 135.

Floyd pointed out that Gervonta is the A-side in the negotiation, not the other way around, with Ryan Garcia holding the power position.

Mayweather reminded the fans that Ryan has never won a world title, and his WBC interim lightweight belt that he won against Luke Campbell doesn’t count.

Ryan, 23, has never won a real title, just the trinket strap he got for his win against Campbell.

Incidentally, that fight was the last time that Ryan fought at 135, as he moved up to 140 afterward and has fought his last two fights in that division.

“So if you feel like you can beat Tank, and you the better fighter, then guess what? Make sacrifices,” said Floyd Mayweather Jr to Fighthype about what Ryan Garcia must do to get the Tank Davis fight.

“You just fought at 135 [in January 2021 against Luke Campbell]. We can fight in 90 days if you want to. Whatever you want to do. Ain’t going to get smoked,” said Mayweather.

It’s unlikely the Tank Davis vs. Ryan Garcia fight will happen within 90 days, but it’s great that Floyd is willing to push it that fast.

Golden Boy Promotions boss Oscar De La Hoya and PBC head Al Haymon will likely schedule the Davis-Ryan fight in November or December. Negotiations will take time, and they’ll want a long promotion of the contest to create as much hype as possible to maximize the pay-per-view buys.

“The fight has got to be at 135,” Mayweather continued about his conditions to make the Gervonta vs. Ryan contest. “We can make the fight happen, but the fight is going to happen at 135.”

It’s doubtful that Ryan, 23, will make a big fuss about having to drain down to 135 for the fight against Tank Davis because he wants that match-up. Look at it this way.

If Ryan doesn’t agree to the 135-lb limit, he won’t get the big payday against Tank, and he’ll be stuck fighting the less popular but equally dangerous fighters at 140.

Those guys hit hard at light welterweight, and they can take a punch without wilting.

If Ryan faces 140-pounders like Regis Prograis, Jose Zepeda and Jose Ramirez, those guys are going to be passive like Javier Fortuna was in his fight with Kingry.

It’s better for Ryan to agree to the 135-lb limit and hope that Mayweather doesn’t ask for a rehydration limit.

“Sacrifice, make sacrifices, and we can make it happen,” Mayweather said.

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