Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis reportedly plans to debut with Amazon Prime Video PPV in a fight in the UK this summer against a still-to-be-determined foe. This idea would work if the Saudis plan on subsidizing it, but why would they want Tank to fight in the UK rather than Saudi Arabia?
Fighting a non-Brit in the UK, like Vasily Lomachenko, Frank Martin, or Shakur Stevenson, sounds like a dumb idea unless one of the promoters is willing to give Gervonta a ton of cash to come over. Why would they do that?
None of the British promoters would be willing to bring Tank Davis to the UK just so that he can fight a non-British fighter because it doesn’t help their bottom line.
That is to say, there’s nothing to build on, and promoters aren’t going to want to throw one of their middle-of-the-road guys in with Tank and watch him get roasted. The talent pool is basically empty in the UK at 135, 140, and 147.
The British fighters would have no chance against Tank Davis, and it would be a disaster for PBC to match him against one of those obscure guys.
Joe Cordina is a UK fighter that competes at 130, but U.S boxing fans would have zero interest in purchasing a fight between that guy and Tank Davis on Amazon Prime PPV. Even if that were a free fight, they wouldn’t want it in high numbers.
There aren’t high-caliber fighters from the UK at 135 or 140 for the 29-year-old Gervonta to fight, and that’s the main problem. If Tank does fight a British fighter for his debut on Amazon Prime PPV, it could bomb badly for PBC, reinforcing the view that they will wear out their welcome with this new platform.
British options for Tank to fight in the UK
- Maxi Hughes
- Joe Cordina: *130-pounder
- Jack Catterall
- Dalton Smith
- Sean McComb
- Leigh Wood
- Archie Sharp
- Jono Carroll
- Josh Taylor
The fan reaction to the ‘Face of Boxing’ Tank (29-0, 27 KOs) potentially fighting in the UK is largely negative, with people viewing it as another soft opponent being selected for the former Mayweather-promoted fighter to ensure he doesn’t get beaten.
Hopefully, PBC hasn’t lost their minds and is planning on putting Tank in with one of the obscure British fighters this summer, thinking American fans will happily want to purchase the match on Amazon Prime PPV for $70+.