By Dan Ambrose: Hector Luis Garcia says he’s motivated by the fact that Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis views him as a “tune-up fight” on January 7th to get him ready for his April 15th mega-bout against Ryan Garcia.
The undefeated Hector (16-0, 10 KOs) says it will be Tank’s problem if he views him as a “warm-up” fight because he’s not the type of fighter that one uses for tuning up. It would be naive on Gervonta’s part to view Hector as a “tune-up” because he’s a better fighter than Ryan Garcia and poses a genuine threat to beating him.
Some believe that the main reason why the 28-year-old Gervonta (27-0, 25 KOs) chose to fight the risky WBA super featherweight champion Hector Garcia is because of the perception that boxing fans have that he’s been matched against weak opposition during his years of being promoted by Mayweather Promotions.
Gervonta’s decision to take a dangerous guy in 31-year-old Hector is his way of showing the fans that he’s not afraid to take risks, even if it involves putting his mega-fight against social media star Ryan Garcia in a position where it could be ruined.
“I’ve always been a bit calculated in everything I do, and when I’m in the ring, I do what I have to do,” said Hector Luis Garcia to Fighthype. “Gervonta Davis is a fighter, and he felt my energy. He knows what’s going on when you’re talking to another fighter, and I think he felt that energy.
“Yes, that motivates me. Maybe, he’s looking at me like a warm-up fight, a tune-up, or maybe his team is looking at me as a warm-up fight or a tune-up fight. That motivates me, but that’s something he has to worry about. I don’t have to worry about it,” said Hector Garcia.
“Tank Davis is someone with a lot of experience, and he’s been around the world. He knows another fighter when he sees one. Chris Colbert is a great fighter, but he had me in front of him. That’s why the fight went the way it did.
“I have a lot of advantages that most people don’t realize, and those advantages will show up in the ring. I don’t think I have to be careful. I do have my plan as far as how I’m going to fight.
“At times, I’ll fight at a distance if that’s what is required, and at times, I’ll fight on the inside if needed.