By Dan Ambrose: Light welterweight prospect Elijah Flores got an opportunity to spar with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis on Tuesday, and he came away from the training session in awe of his power, doubting the chances of Ryan Garcia beating him on April 15th.
The 19-year-old Flores was in the right place at the right time, getting the opportunity to spar with Tank Davis (28-0, 26 KOs) because he needed someone with the same lanky build as Ryan.
Even with 16-ounce gloves on, Flores says he could feel the power in Tank’s shots, and he states that he was lucky to get out of the way of some of his big punches.
What was interesting is that Flores was able to point out the flaws in Ryan’s game that will result in him getting clipped by Tank.
Flores has spotted the way Ryan leans back with his head straight up in the air when he’s attacked and feels he’s going to get nailed by Tank if he fights like that.
Flores waited seven hours to spar Tank
“That was a crazy experience. It was crazy because it was like it was written, and it was supposed to happen,” said Elijah Flores to Fighthype about his sparring with Gervonta Davis.
“I go to that gym sometimes, but he was going for somebody else. We went there at nine in the morning, and then we got a call from the owner of Brickhouse. He was like, ‘Tank is coming through. We need somebody tall and lanky like Ryan [Garcia].’
“They checked the cameras to see who walked in, and I walked in at the right time and the right moment. So it was bound to happen. It was going to be at 6:30, and I was there at 9 [in the morning] because I was supposed to spar with somebody else.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViJq9NIYAzE
“I was like, ‘I’m going to wait until 6:30.’ I waited like six or seven hours, but I was like, ‘I’m just going to do it.’ A lot,” said Flores when asked what he got from the experience of sparring with Tank Davis.
“He was giving me some pointers. I was elevating my game. It was nerve-wracking at first. ‘Damn, I’m in the ring with Tank right now.’ It was a great experience to be in there and get those rounds in and stuff.
“I’ve been in with a lot of top dogs. Arnold Barboza, Jose Zepeda, and Robert Garcia’s guys. So I’ve been in there with all types of different styles. When you compare them to him [Tank Davis], it’s all top-quality work.
“With him, it was different because everybody knows he’s known for his power, but it was great work. Everybody I’ve been sparring, it’s just elevated me. I can’t complain,” Flores said.
Gervonta’s power is “real”
“It’s real,” said Flores when asked about Gervonta’s power. “He was wearing 16 ounces [gloves], so there were some shots he caught me with, and I was like, ‘Okay.’ There were some shots that if he caught me, I was slick, I was moving, I wasn’t standing there.
“So there were some shots that if he caught me. He was swinging hard, like he almost went to the ropes to try and load up. If I didn’t have the movement, I definitely would have been caught with some big shots.
“I was getting caught with some shots. The power is definitely up to the hype. It’s going to be a great fight,” said Flores when asked about his view of the Tank Davis vs. Ryan Garcia fight.
“Me just being in the ring with Tank, I’m way bigger than him, the way he was so composed with timing and how he walks you down, I don’t think. Ryan has the experience. If Ryan can keep him out, it could definitely be up in the air, but with the way Tank just [blocks shots], it’s going to be a good fight though.
“I’m going to lean on Tank with that just because of the power. He’s going to get touched. I’m not saying that I’m better than anybody. I don’t think Ryan is as slick or has better footwork than me.
“If he doesn’t have that, especially with the bad habits he has going back with the chin up, you’re going to get clipped. To Tank’s punches, you got to be crazy. But if Ryan can box with those long arms, you never know.
“Just because of the power and the eight-ounce gloves, I don’t see it, really,” said Flores about having doubts that Ryan will win against Tank. “It’s going to be a good fight.”