By Sam Volz: Ryan Garcia’s dad, Henry Garcia, says he spoke to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis on Monday on Facetime about their mega-fight.
Henry stated that Tank (27-0, 25 KOs) asked him if Ryan would be ready for their fight, and he said he REALLY wanted the match to happen.
The fight is still being negotiated, and it could come down to the networks if it’s going to happen or not. If it doesn’t, Ryan (23-0, 19 KOs) will move up to 140 and go after the belts in that weight class.
He’s clearly outgrown the 135-lb division, and he can’t afford to stay without draining himself.
For Tank, it’s important that he face Ryan Garcia while he’s still undefeated because when he moves up to 140, he’s going to be facing big punchers that could take advantage of his bad habit of standing straight up.
Ideally, Ryan should wean himself from this bad habit before he begins facing the killers at light welterweight.
“I ran into this one coach, and he had wanted to interview him, which he did, but the guy next to him, to my surprise, was Tank’s manager. I didn’t know that,” said Henry Garcia to ESNEWS about how he ended up speaking with Gervonta Davis on Facetime.
“He had said something, and I disagreed with him, and then he had me Facetime with Tank himself. I didn’t even know who it was until I saw him on his phone.
“I saw him on my phone, and I was shocked. He [Tank Davis] was saying, ‘Hey, man, are you guys going to be ready?‘ I said, ‘We’re more than ready. Are you going to be ready?’
“Then I was telling him that he has to be prepared because he hasn’t seen the speed or the power that Ryan has with all the other guys he’s faced.
“He did say he really wants it. He’s waiting for it, and he’s hoping it does happen. I said the same thing, and we all know that’s where it’s headed. I can’t wait, and he can’t wait, either.
“Ryan even told me, ‘Wow, dad. I didn’t know you Facetimed him.’ ‘I didn’t; his manager did.’ He [Tank Davis] did show some respect to me. Not to Ryan, but he did show some respect to me.
“He was just laughing. Out of all people, it’s Ryan’s dad. All I can say is he’s all in. I told him over the phone, ‘Tank, I respect you as a fighter, but you have to respect my son as well.’
“He agreed. Trust me, he knows. He just basically told me that he’s ready because he’s all in. I said, ‘We’re all in too.’ There are a couple of things to iron out, and that’s it.
“That’s an amazing compliment. We already knew that because of what he does in sparring in preparation,” said Henry when told that trainer Joe Goosen said that Ryan is the ‘Hardest hitting fighter he’s trained.’
“Either way, it’s going to be a mega-fight because Tank has tremendous power, but Ryan does as well. Ryan, we started him young. We gave him the foundation.
“Absolutely,” said Henry when asked if he’d be interested in matching Ryan against Devin Haney at 140. “Here’s the thing. Everybody is going to get a chance at Ryan.
“I feel we’re just about there, but right now, we’re focused all on Tank Davis. That’s what we’re set on. That’s what we want; that’s what he wants. Let that happen first, and then from there, we can move on.
“All these fighters at 135 that want to move up to 140. Well, we’re going to meet them there, too,” said Henry.
