{"id":104598,"date":"2021-06-27T11:13:38","date_gmt":"2021-06-27T16:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=104598"},"modified":"2021-06-27T11:14:20","modified_gmt":"2021-06-27T16:14:20","slug":"gervonta-tank-davis-moves-up-two-weight-classes-destroys-previously-unbeaten-mario-barrios-boxing-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=104598","title":{"rendered":"Gervonta &#8220;Tank&#8221; Davis Moves Up Two Weight Classes &#038; Destroys Previously Unbeaten Mario Barrios &#8211; Boxing News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<!-- RSR AD 1 --><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1545664804358300\" data-ad-slot=\"7759247395\" data-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=104598\" rel=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/?p=104598\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-104599 size-medium\" style=\"margin-right: 10px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-1-6-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-1-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-1-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/thumbnail-1-6.jpg 786w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Photo by Amanda Westcott\/SHOWTIME<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Gervonta \u201cTank\u201d Davis, one of the biggest stars in all of boxing, put on a career-defining performance Saturday night live on SHOWTIME PPV from the award-winning State Farm Arena in Atlanta, scoring a scintillating 11th round TKO over the previously-undefeated Mario Barrios to capture the WBA Super Lightweight Championship in the action-packed Premier Boxing Champions event. Watch the stoppage HERE.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI made it tough. I definitely could have made it easier but I went up two weight classes and I got the job done,\u201d said the 26-year-old Baltimore native, who was headlining his second SHOWTIME PPV. \u201cI hit him with some clean shots, but I\u2019m the type of fighter that wants to catch you with clean shots. I don\u2019t just want to throw any type of shot. The shots I was throwing were missing, but eventually I caught up with him.\u201d<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>In a fight that lived up to its potential, Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) and Barrios (26-1, 17 KOs) combined to put on an unforgettable main event in front of a sold-out crowd of 16,570. After a slow opening four rounds in which Davis landed just 11 punches, the fight produced fireworks beginning in the fifth round. In the eighth round, \u201cTank\u201d sent \u201cEl Azteca\u201d to the canvas for both the first and second times of his career. First, Davis connected on a sweeping right hook that sent the former champion to the canvas. Moments later, a straight left hand by Davis dropped Barrios again. The brave Barrios rose to his feet, surviving Davis\u2019 attempts to finish him in the eighth.<\/p>\n<p>With International Boxing Hall of Famer and promoter Floyd Mayweather encouraging Davis in his corner, the southpaw came out rejuvenated in the eleventh round, realizing that the fight could be close on the scorecards. \u201cTank\u201d dropped Barrios for the third time in the fight, this time with a left uppercut to the body. The bloodied Barrios rose again, only to be greeted with another barrage of punches from Davis. Referee Thomas Taylor stepped in to stop the fight at 2:13 of the eleventh round.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI knew for sure if I catch him, I\u2019m crackin,\u201d Davis told SHOWTIME\u2019s Jim Gray. \u201cSo I caught him, and it showed. My coach was telling me to go to a jab style but I\u2019m a southpaw so they know I\u2019m going to that jab side. So I would try and bait him in. I faked like I was going left, and I threw my right. And my hook over top, and that\u2019s where I caught him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the final six-and-a-half rounds, Davis landed 85 punches. He landed 45 percent of his power punches (82\/182), while Barrios more than held his own, out-landing Davis in six of the ten completed rounds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI knew he was hurt. I just had to catch him at the right time,\u201d Davis continued. \u201cFloyd [Mayweather] came to me and was honest and said I was down,\u201d continued Davis, who was actually ahead on all three judges\u2019 scorecards at the time of the stoppage. \u201cSo he said \u2018Show me that you\u2019re great.\u2019 And you know how we do it in the doghouse, baby!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With the victory, Davis now holds world championships in three different divisions simultaneously, a feat only accomplished by a few other fighters in history, including Henry Armstrong and Canelo Alvarez.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe has the potential to be one of the greatest ever,\u201d said Mayweather. \u201cWhen I first met \u2018Tank\u2019 when he was 14 or 15 years old, I told him I\u2019d make him a world champion. And that you\u2019ll be one of the best someday. I\u2019m proud of him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve never been a hater. Congrats to \u2018Tank\u2019,\u201d said Barrios. \u201cHe came here and did his thing. It was nothing short of an exciting fight and that\u2019s exactly what both of us predicted. He was the better man tonight, but I\u2019ll definitely be back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c\u2019Tank\u2019 is explosive. He caught me slipping and it\u2019s boxing. At the end of the day, one punch can change the fight. That\u2019s exactly what I felt happened. Congrats to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a back-and-forth co-main event, Orlando\u2019s Erickson \u201cHammer\u201d Lubin (23-1, 17 KOs) overcame some adversity to score the most important victory of his career over former unified world champion Jeison Rosario (20-3-1, 14 KOs). The WBC No. 1-ranked contender at 154 pounds, Lubin scored a sixth-round KO (1:42) in the WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator. Watch HERE.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just followed the game plan,\u201d said the 25-year-old Lubin, who improves to 6-0 since suffering the only loss of his career to 154-pound kingpin Jermell Charlo. \u201cI would just go back to my corner after each round and Coach [Kevin] Cunningham and my team would just say, \u2018Stick to the jab. Stay consistent with your jab.&#8217; I\u2019m way faster than him and I knew he had good power and he was trying to counter me. So I would fade him out and use my jab consistently.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the third round, Lubin nearly put an early end to the action with a huge frame that had Rosario on the back foot. In the closing moments of the round, Lubin landed a right hook that had Rosario wobbling back to his corner after the bell rang. Miraculously, in the next round, Rosario was able to recover and completely turned the tables, wobbling Lubin with a left jab.<\/p>\n<p>The action turned up even more in the sixth round. Lubin, sensing that Rosario was susceptible to the body attack, landed a vicious left-right body combination that sent Rosario to his knees in what ultimately proved to be the turning point of the fight. Rosario, clearly hurt, was never able to recover and Lubin finished him off moments later against the ropes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI started to hurt him in the body as soon as the first round started,\u201d the 2016 \u201cProspect Of The Year\u201d Lubin said. \u201cI started with the body and I saw him grunt. So I was able to hurt him to the body. I just wanted to distract him with the jab, then go downstairs. And I was able to get him out. I knew even if he got up after the knockdown that the fight was over. I know I\u2019m a great finisher and I knew I was going to get him out of there as soon as I saw him drop.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lubin landed 44 percent of his power punches (80\/288) and 20 of his landed punches were to the body. With the win, Lubin puts himself squarely in the picture for a second world title opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want a shot at the world title next,\u201d he said. \u201cI want everyone at 154 pounds. I\u2019m No. 1 in the WBC but I chose to fight Rosario. I don\u2019t duck anybody. I want to say that I fought everyone in my division when I win the world title.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRight now, I feel so bad,\u201d said Rosario. \u201cThere is no lesson to be learned yet, everything is so raw still. I lost again, and it\u2019s so frustrating. I was convinced I was going to win. The fight started to turn in the second round. I was just trying to keep up and listen to my corner. Lubin is a great fighter. He deserved to win. I hope he enjoys his victory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On the biggest stage of his career, Dominican Republic\u2019s Carlos Adames (20-1, 16 KOs) rose to the occasion, scoring a highlight-reel third-round knockout over the streaking Alexis Salazar (23-4, 9 KOs) in the second fight of the pay-per-view. The time of the stoppage was 2:59 of the third round. Watch the KO HERE.<\/p>\n<p>In the eventful and decisive third round, referee Jim Korb deducted two points from Adames for excessive holding. However, Adames made certain that the point deduction would have no impact on the fight\u2019s result. He dropped Salazar with a lead left hook flush on the chin, a punch that Salazar never saw coming. The 25-year-old Mexican was able to get back to his feet, but Korb called for the stoppage when it was evident that a dazed Salazar was unable to continue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was in control the entire fight, and that\u2019s what reduced him to turning around at times,\u201d said the 27-year-old Adames. \u201cI was working with the jab to the body at first so that was working, and then I came with the left hook. I did my job and followed my strategy from A to Z and was able to succeed the way I wanted to.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe key moment of the fight was when I managed to disrupt his focus. Once I was able to do that then it was easy pickings for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I was feeling good in there and I thought I was winning rounds,\u201d said Salazar, whose 15-fight win streak was put to an end with one punch. \u201cBut he started grabbing me and that&#8217;s when he got me with an uppercut. That swung the fight. I just have to get back to work and keep looking for more opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the opening bout of the SHOWTIME PPV telecast, the hard-hitting Batyr Akhmedov (9-1, 8 KOs) scored a TKO victory over former world champion Argenis Mendez (25-7-3, 12 KOs) in a 12-round WBA Super Lightweight Title Eliminator. Mendez suffered a right hand injury and did not get off his stool to come out for the ninth round. The official time of the stoppage was 3:00 of round number eight.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe fight went as planned,\u201d said Akhmedov, who overcame the first cut of his career over his left eye after an accidental head clash in the second round. \u201cWe were expecting a tough fight like that. I&#8217;ve been out of the ring for a long time, so I needed to get those rounds in. My plan is to fight for the world title next. We knew he would be uncomfortable to fight and tricky. He was headbutting and elbowing me. It was good experience for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the battle of Olympians, it was Akhmedov who pressed the action and was far busier from the onset. He went to the body early and often, landing 57 body punches, wearing Mendez down as the rounds passed by. The 30-year-old Akhmedov landed 115 of the 306 power punches he threw, while the 34-year-old Mendez landed 84 of his 223 power punches, including just 13 body connects. At the time of the stoppage, Akhmedov was ahead on all three judges\u2019 scorecards.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Mendez is a tough guy who fights top fighters,\u201d continued Akhmedov. \u201cWe knew it wouldn&#8217;t be a walk in the park. When I hurt him, my corner was telling me to slow down and take my time before going for the knockout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI started feeling (injured) in the second and third round,\u201d said a disappointed Mendez. \u201cMy knuckles were broken and I couldn\u2019t throw a punch anymore after I cut him with my right hand in the first round. I tried to keep fighting from the fourth round on, but to no avail. It was useless.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With the win, Akhmedov keeps himself in the running for top fights in the deep 140-pound division. Mendez drops to 2-4-2 in last eight fights.<\/p>\n<p>SHOWTIME will add a special replay of tonight\u2019s pay-per-view main event fight between Gervonta Davis and Mario Barrios to the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast headlined by Chris \u201cPrimetime\u201d Colbert vs. Tugstsogt \u201cKing Tug\u201d Nyambayar next Saturday, July 3 at 9 p.m. ET\/6 p.m. PT on SHOWTIME. The replay of tonight\u2019s SHOWTIME PPV headline attraction from State Farm Arena in Atlanta will serve as the opening fight of the live telecast from Carson, Calif. on Independence Day weekend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photo by Amanda Westcott\/SHOWTIME Gervonta \u201cTank\u201d Davis, one of the biggest stars in all of boxing, put on a career-defining performance Saturday night live on SHOWTIME PPV from the award-winning State Farm Arena in Atlanta, scoring a scintillating 11th round TKO over the previously-undefeated Mario Barrios to capture the WBA Super Lightweight Championship in the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[26782],"class_list":["post-104598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boxing-news","tag-gervonta-tank-davis-moves-up-two-weight-classes-destroys-previously-unbeaten-mario-barrios-boxing-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104598","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=104598"}],"version-history":[{"count":-2,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104598\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=104598"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=104598"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ringsidereport.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=104598"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}