Gervonta Davis, better known as Tank to his fans, retained his WBA lightweight world title Sunday night, Jan. 8, night with a technical knockout in Washington D.C. in front of 19,731 boxing fans. The champ’s opponent, Hector Luis Garcia, literally didn’t know what hit him in the eighth and final round, which was dominated by Davis.
“When I got the shot to my head in the final round, that’s when I couldn’t see from my eye,” Garcia said. “I didn’t know where I was when he hit me with that shot. My vision is back but my head still hurts. I couldn’t see from my right eye. It was going well up until that point. I was picking my shots.”
Davis didn’t expect the TKO after the eighth round.
“(I was) a little surprised (he didn’t come out). But I knew he was hurt bad but he’s a fighter and he didn’t want to show it. I knew he was hurt though.”
The fight at the sold-out Capital One Arena was interrupted when a commotion erupted involving hip-hop artist Meek Mill and his entourage, along with professional boxer and former world champion Gary Russell, Jr. The two are from Philadelphia and Washington D.C., respectively.
What’s next for Davis? It appears he may have an April 15 bout against the popular Ryan Garcia.
“God willing I’m ready for the fight,” he said of the Garcia fight. “It’s scheduled for April. I’m here. He’s been training. He’s been talking. And let’s see who’s really about that.”
In the co-main event of the night, Jaron Ennis (30-0, 27 KOs), also known as “Boots” didn’t lose a round against Karen Chukhadzhian in the Interim IBF Welterweight championship. Though Ennis one easily, he made mistakes that a better boxer wouldn’t allow him to getaway with. Still, Ennis continues to call out Unified welterweight champion Errol Spence.
“Everyone knows I want Spence,” said Ennis. “I’ll keep waiting until the time is right and Spence is ready to take the fight.”
