Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela wants Tank Davis next after beating Colbert

By Dan Ambrose - 12/18/2023 - Comments

Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs) says he wants a title shot against WBA ‘regular’ lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis next following his devasting one-punch sixth round knockout victory over Chris ‘Primetime’ Colbert (17-2, 6 KOs) last Saturday night at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Most would agree that Valenzuela would be no match for Tank Davis if that fight were to happen in 2024, and it doesn’t look like it will for the Baltimore native’s next fight. It’s believed that Tank will face Isaac Cruz next if he doesn’t take on Devin Haney.

The Valenzuela vs. Colbert fight was a WBA lightweight title eliminator, which puts Rayo in a position to challenge for a world title but does not necessarily guarantee that Tank Davis will fight him.

“I knew if I hit him, I’d hurt him. I was in way better condition. I hurt him in the first round, and I was just patient with my conditioning and power carried all through the rounds, so I was able to drop him,” said Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzeula to Fighthype, talking about his highlight reel sixth round knockout of Chris Colbert last Saturday night in Minneapolis.

Rayo avenged his controversial ten round split decision loss to Colbert by knocking him out with a leaping right hand to the head in the sixth round.

The referee, Joel Scobie, waived it off immediately at 1:46 of the round. At the time, Rayo was ahead on all three scorecards by the scores 49-44, 50-44 and 50-44.

“Sure, I do want a rematch with Edwin De Los Santos, but I want my title shot first. Title shot, and then I would love to take on Edwin,” Rayo continued.

“I’d have to prepare very well for that fight. He’s a tremendous fighter, but I’ll be ready,” said Valenzuela about a clash between him and WBA ‘regular’ lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.

Tank won’t be forced to fight anyone, and the mandatory applies to whoever ends up with the WBA ‘Super’ 135-lb belt now that Devin Haney is vacating all his straps at lightweight.

‘Rayo’ Valenzuela says he wants a title shot first, and then he a rematch with Edwin De Los Santos, who knocked him out in the third round last year in September.

Given how De Los Santos dominated Valenzuela, it might be best to steer clear of fighting him again under any circumstances because he lacks hand speed and skills to avenge his loss.

“He’s the best. I think so,” said Rayo when asked if he felt Tank is better than WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. “I think he’s the best. I want to do it with the best.”

The payday would be much bigger for Valenzuela if he were to get a fight with Gervonta, so it makes sense that he would want to battle him for a title rather than WBC champ Shakur, who still hasn’t won over a lot of boxing fans due to his dull fighting style.

“I’m going to be a lot more busy from now on. I think it might affect him. I think he’s one of the guys that it does hit him hard, especially with an ego like that,” said Valenzuela when asked how the brutal knockout will impact Chris Colbert’s career.

Even before the knockout loss, Colbert’s career was on shaky ground after his loss to Hector Garcia in February 2022. Garcia dominated and exposed him in that fight, and it was obvious afterward that he lacked the chin and the talent to be one of the major players at 130.

Moving up to 135 is a mistake for Colbert because he doesn’t have the punch resistance to withstand the power of the fighters in this weight class.

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