Fight Breakdown: How Tank Tamed Garcia To Set Up 2023 Super-Fight

Gervonta Davis kicked off 2023 in typically devastating fashion with an eighth-round knockout victory over Hector Luis Garcia, to set up the anticipated Ryan Garcia showdown. 

‘Tank’ showcased the concussive power that’s made him one of boxing’s biggest pound-for-pound punchers and Box Office attractions in recent years, landing a trademark left hand to stun Garcia and eventually force him to retire on his stool.

Garcia wobbled back to his corner at the conclusion of the eighth round in a daze before telling his corner his vision was impaired, forcing a halt to the Showtime PPV main event in Washington, D.C. 

The victory sees Davis move to a record of 28-0 with 26 KOs and sets up the highly-awaited blockbuster against another Garcia in April. 

Davis vs Garcia Fight Breakdown

With a methodical approach, Tank began the main event feeling out Garcia and gradually found his range in the opening three rounds. 

Easing into proceedings, Davis then upped the pressure in the fourth round and started landing his deadly left hand over the top against a fellow southpaw. 

Using his power jab to close the distance and get into range to fire off his power shots, Tank increased his body attack while rolling counters on the inside.

After a career-best year in 2022, Garcia came into this fight hungry for another upset and was clearly full of confidence. Despite taking some heat in the first half of the clash, he was able to withstand the pressure and return fire with his own scoring shots. 

Tank’s constant pressure and stalking forward with the high guard began to have a visible effect on Garcia as the pair reached the eighth round though. 

In a rare moment for boxing, both Tank and Garcia became distracted by crowd trouble at ringside. The referee called a halt to the in-ring action, as the focus momentarily shifted to the incident outside of the ropes. 

Davis made sure the crowd’s eyes were fully focused back on him as the fight resumed, ending the round with a devastating left hand landing flush on Garcia’s head to badly stun the Dominican challenger. 

It proved to be the finishing shot of the fight as Garcia saw out the round but was unable to continue, retiring on his stool in a concussed daze. 

This saw Tank go 28-0 with 26 knockouts in the U.S. capital to set up a Ryan Garcia showdown. 

One Garcia down, one to go

Davis’ latest career triumph tees up an even more prosperous fight for later in the year, with the Garcia showdown reportedly already agreed to take place in April. 

It will see two of the sport’s biggest global stars collide in a spectacle event, one which will see the eventual victor secure superstardom in an all-American battle. 

The pair have been exchanging jibes online for some time and an apparent altercation at a club following Tank’s win over Rolando Romero last year only added fuel to their already fiery rivalry.

In a stacked lightweight division also featuring talents like Devin Haney and now Shakur Stevenson, there are plenty more high-profile match-ups down the line for the winner of this upcoming meeting too. 

But, after another eye-catching KO display, it’s Tank who takes centre stage once again and carries the momentum forward towards one of the biggest fights of 2023 in April. 

 

Header image: Premier Boxing