Tag

Floyd Mayweather and Gervonta Davis

Browsing

With nine days until Christmas, talkSPORT is looking back at one thrilling knockout each day.

Up next it’s a reminder of when Gervonta Davis turned a former world champion’s legs to jelly and made him quit as Floyd Mayweather watched on from ringside.

As a teenager, Davis was an unstoppable force as he accumulated stoppage after stoppage.

The man known as Tank was also incredibly active as he fought six times in 2013, his first year as a professional.

Davis’ career received a tremendous boost just two years later when Floyd Mayweather took him under his wing.

Gervonta Davis Summed Up How A Fight With Floyd Mayweather Would Go In Just  One Word - Seconds OutOnce he became a member of Mayweather Promotions, the spotlight intensified and the challenges in the ring became increasingly difficult for Davis.

One of those challenges came in the form of former IBF featherweight world champion Cristobal Cruz.

At 38 years old, Cruz was evidently past his prime.

But it takes serious boxing IQ and nous to become a world champion and the Mexican felt he could call on all of his experience against the fearless Davis.

Unfortunately for Cruz, experience counted for little when Davis came firing with his lethal arsenal of punches.

In fact, Davis knocked down the former champion with 50 seconds remaining in the first round.

Does Floyd Mayweather train Gervonta Davis? | DAZN News USDavis fired a powerful straight left that sent Cruz back into the ropes and onto the canvas, but the Mexican was able to beat the count and continue.

Cruz ate several thudding shots from Davis in the second round, but there was little he could do when ‘Tank’ cranked up the power in the third.

The Mexican over-reached when he threw a jab midway through the third round and Davis’ eyes lit up.

Davis fired off a short left hand that rocked Cruz, so much so that he held his hands up and curled up on the floor.

Remarkably, Cruz beat the count and got to his feet.

However, when Cruz was asked to walk to his left, the referee deemed he was unable to continue and subsequently waved off the fight.

Gervonta Davis Vs. Floyd Mayweather Animosity Overblown, Espinoza Says -  Business InsiderCruz was disappointed at the referee’s decision, but given the damage Davis had dished out within three rounds, a stoppage seemed inevitable.

Mayweather sat ringside for Davis’ three-round beatdown and went into the ring to celebrate his then-protege’s victory.

Fast forward to today and Davis is the WBA lightweight champion, but the relationship between him and Mayweather is non-existent.

The pair amicably split in 2022 when Davis decided to leave Mayweather Promotions, but have engaged in a war of words since.

Their latest verbal spat came when Mayweather suggested Davis’ fight against Frank Martin was cancelled and said fans should watch a UFC event instead.

Davis responded by calling Mayweather a ‘bitter b****’ and mocked the news his right-hand man Leonard Ellerbe had stepped down from his role as CEO of Mayweather Promotions.

It’s trash, garbage…I’m out of it,” declared Gervonta Davis, addressing a crowd of reporters as he announced his intention to retire before 2026. The unexpected revelation has left the boxing world stunned. As the ‘face of boxing’, Davis remains one of the sport’s biggest pay-per-view draws. A month ago he turned 30. So he still has many more years of boxing left in him. Why should he contemplate retirement at this stage when he literally rules the sport?

The Baltimore native’s announcement has sparked widespread speculation. Some wonder what might have prompted such a decision. Others reflect on whether Davis has already achieved enough in his decade-long career to justify retiring with his legacy intact. It’s undeniable that Gervonta Davis has earned millions. But has he reached the uppermost echelons of the sport to retire with an unblemished reputation? Social media personality and boxing commentator, Showbizz The Adult, believes there’s more to the story.

Floyd Mayweather and Gervonta DavisTo build his case, he drew an analogy with Gervonta Davis’ former mentor and promoter, Floyd Mayweather Jr. The two parted ways two years ago. An initial phase witnessed the two enjoying friendly terms. However, their relations subsequently turned acrimonious with a public feud surfacing early this year.

Showbizz The Adult went back to May 5, 2007; a 30-year-old Mayweather Jr. faced Oscar De La Hoya for the middleweight title. The undefeated former champion won the hotly contested match by a split decision. However, post-fight he hinted at retirement. “Because I’ve nothing else to prove, I’ve made a ton of money in the sport,” said Mayweather Jr.

According to the online content creator, after years of fighting the best in the business, perhaps the Olympic bronze medalist felt worn out. “When he retired, after De La Hoya, he was crying, “Y’all don’t appreciate.” He got scarred because Floyd thought he was doing all the right things and fighting them all, and people kept criticizing him, and it hurt his feelings,” said Showbizz The Adult.

The boxing commentator theorized that despite all he did to reach the heights of boxing, Mayweather Jr. always found himself under scrutiny. Hence a thought emerged: “‘F’ everybody, I’m going to do this for me!” He posited that Mayweather may have passed this mindset on to Davis during their time together.

A Choice Between Legacy and Wealth

Floyd Mayweather and Gervonta DavisForget everybody, get to the bag—Currency Over Legacy,” became Mayweather Jr.’s mantra. Showbizz The Adult added, “It’s easy to know because as soon as Floyd saw me, he pulled into VIP, and he had words to say to me: You don’t think I’m the greatest? Why not? He’s tired of all the criticism. He’s like, Forget the noise; they’re going to criticize you anyway. Get to the bag and rob them.

However, he opined that the rationale wasn’t fair on Gervonta Davis. “You’re grabbing all of your insecurities and you put it on ‘Tank,’” the online content creator stated. Now the Baltimorean has reached a stage where he finds himself among the richest sports personalities in the world. However, when it boils down to legacy, he has nothing to boast.

Showbizz’s perspective raises an important question: Has Davis truly weighed the balance between financial success and securing an undeniable legacy? Given his record of facing and defeating top opponents, doubts about his place in boxing history may seem unwarranted to some. Yet, the debate remains open.

As Davis nears the potential end of his career, the boxing community and fans are left to ponder his legacy. Will he be remembered as a dominant force in the ring, or will his focus on financial gain overshadow his achievements? Only time will tell.

What’s your opinion on Gervonta Davis’ career trajectory and legacy?

Verified by MonsterInsights