Gervonta Davis Talks About The Biggest Problem In Boxing Right Now
Gervonta Davis believes “people playing with the sport” is the biggest problem boxing is facing right now.
In recent years we have seen an influx of celebrities trying their hand at boxing, while several fight legends have returned to the ring for a quick payday. If you’re looking for a quick payday make sure you always get the best boxing odds when betting on the fights.
Logan Paul and Jake Paul are the most notable celebrities to enter the world of boxing. Logan fought in a mega-money exhibition fight against Floyd Mayweather earlier this year. The 26-year-old managed to survive eight rounds with arguably the best boxer in history. He was previously beaten in his first and only professional boxing match when he fought fellow YouTube KSI in 2019.
Jake Paul has gone a different route and has racked up four professional wins in the boxing ring against non-boxers. ‘The Problem Child’ beat YouTuber AnEsonGib, former NBA player Nate Robinson and MMA fighters Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. Paul is expected to face his toughest test to date later this year when he takes on Tommy Fury.
During a recent interview with ESPN, Gervonta Davis explained why these types of fights are plaguing the sport.
“The biggest problem in boxing? Right now, people playing with the sport,” Tank said. “They’re playing with boxing. They’re making it like a WWE situation. Now, everybody knows you get hurt in the sport. That’s what I think is the biggest problem. We can’t jump up and go to the NFL or the NBA, so why do they think it’s cool to play in our sport? I’m not saying no names.
Davis refused to name any specific people but did take aim at Triller who have been putting on alternative boxing events as of late
“I’m saying whoever,” Davis said when asked if he was referring to the Paul brothers. “Triller, they just come into the sport, and they’re putting on any kind of event. They put on events with people smoking. Come on, bro. I would never be a fan of that. You can’t commentate or promote if you’re smoking. We don’t do that. It’s not a playground. Make the fights happen.
“The guy is in a combat sport, so I don’t think that’s bad,” said Gervonta when asked about his thoughts on the recent Triller event between 59-year-old Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort.
“So don’t come down and drag our sport down. Let’s keep it classy. Floyd did that with McGregor.
“I don’t think that’s bad. I think that’s good that they can come over. This is not no game,” said Tank when asked if he’s not in favor of Tiktokers and rappers being involved in boxing events.
The WBA lightweight champion says the ridiculous money on offer to novice boxers makes a mockery of the sport.
“It makes it a joke. There’s no way that somebody should just walk up, and they have no fights making $200 million, and you’ve got people that have been training since they were six, and they ain’t making half of that,” Davis said. “You can’t do that in any other sport. Why should they do that in ours?”
Davis is focused on legitimizing the sport by beating whoever is in front of him and squaring off against the likes of Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez down the line.
“Right now, I let them [Mayweather Promotions] to the business side as far as promotion,” Davis said. “I can’t really say why it isn’t happening. If I was to say something like that, I’d be completely wrong because I don’t k now what’s going on.I let them do their job, and if it’s meant, it’s meant. Like with Crawford and Shawn Porter. It’ll get to a point where we’ll fight, but it’s like when?
“My main goal is to beat who they put in front of me so that when it’s time fight one of the Four Kings or out of the Three Kings [Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney, and Teofimo Lopez], then that’s what it is. But as far as now, I’ve got to beat who they put in front of me.”
Up first, Davis will square off against Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero on December 5. ‘Tank’ doesn’t think his next opponent brings much to the table except for a 14-fight undefeated record.
“He don’t have nothing. What does he bring to the table? Whooping his troll a**, that’s about it,” Tank said when asked what Rolando Romero brings to the table. “We can’t overlook him; he’s definitely a worthy opponent because he’s 14-0 with 12 knockouts. Other than that, he don’t bring nothing to the table. But you can be 14-0, and they can bring you the right way to make you 14-0.” (Transcribed by Boxingnews24)
Do you agree with Gervonta Davis on people playing with boxing being the biggest problem the sport is currently facing?
