Fighters may use three, four or five months to prepare for a fight. Therefore, it may be unfair to ask who they would like to fight immediately after securing a fighter. As fight fans, it’s hard to control ourselves. Combat sports fandom is just as much about what is happening now as it is about what could be. With that in mind, many are already wondering who Gervonta “Tank” Davis will fight next. Some fans will want Davis to share the ring with the winner of next week’s Kambosos-Haney fight. However, contractual obligations will require a rematch if Haney emerges victorious. Other fans may look for Davis to fight Vasiliy Lomachenko. However, the Ukrainian fighter remains overseas defending his family and country. Gary Russell Jr. is not in Davis’s weight class, a fight with Shakur Stevenson is a few years away and the list goes on. As a result, the pool of potential opponents for Davis’s next fight becomes a little bit smaller. After taking some time to think about it, here a handful of realistic opponents for Tank’s next fight.
Ryan Garcia
Opponent: Ryan Garcia
City: Las Vegas, NV (T-Mobile Arena)
Within the last few years, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) and Mayweather Promotions have done a great job of putting Gervonta “Tank” Davis in different markets. In three years, he’s picked up victories in Baltimore, Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Antonio, Brooklyn and Carson, California. During the fourth quarter of this year, it would be great to see Davis back in the nation’s biggest fight city, Las Vegas. He has not fought there since 2017 and there’s no better opponent to share the ring with than Ryan Garcia. Garcia is expected to return to the ring in July against an unspecified opponent. If he is able to get by his next bout and look good doing it, Garcia-Davis would be one of the most lucrative boxing events in recent memory. Davis would likely be the betting favorite, but Garcia’s size and speed would provide a good test for the undefeated champion. There are always roadblocks that could come up in the negotiating process, but it feels as if there’s too much money on the table for either side to walk away from this opportunity.
Regis Prograis
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Opponent: Regis Prograis
City: New Orleans, LA (Smoothie King Center)
After knocking out Rolando “Rolly” Romero, Davis indicated that he’d like to stay in the lightweight division. While the Baltimore native may be more comfortable at a lower weight class, there are a few interesting matchups for him in the super lightweight division. Not to mention, he has already knocked out an undefeated fighter in that weight class. If a bout with Ryan Garcia is not available in time, a battle with New Orleans native Regis Prograis at the Smoothie King Center would not be a bad idea. Will Prograis be able to co-promote fight as well as Romero? No, he probably won’t be able to do that. With that said, his skills in the ring may be able to make up for the lack of trash talk that he may throw Davis’s way. At 33 years old, Prograis has won pretty much every fight he’s ever been in and his only loss came at the hands of the division’s undisputed titleholder. While Prograis and PBC may have had their own differences throughout 2021, this is the type of fight that would probably allow the New Orleans native to put the past in the past. As for Davis, a fight in New Orleans would allow him to move into yet another market. The best part about Mayweather Promotions and PBC is that they’ll move their stars outside of the traditional markets of New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Dallas and allow them to put on events in other cities. Not to mention, New Orleans is a great fight city. Muhammad Ali-Leon Spinks II and “Sugar” Ray Leonard-Roberto Duran II are just a few of the great fights to take place in the Louisiana city.
Michel Rivera
Opponent: Michel Rivera
City: Miami, FL (FTX Arena)
Michel “La Zarza Ali” Rivera is a 24-year-old rising star with 23 wins, no losses and 14 knockouts. He recently handed Joseph Adorno his first professional loss and he’s on the doorstep of competing for a title.
“I can win a world title right now,” Rivera told Boxing Scene.
“I can fight for a world title right now and win. If they tell me in 20 minutes I’m fighting for a world title, I say yeah.”
George Kambosos and Devin Haney are fighting for the undisputed lightweight title in June, but Gervonta “Tank” Davis does hold the WBA’s “Regular” Lightweight Championship belt. While he may not be the promotional force that Romero is, a fight in Rivera’s hometown could be a bit of fun. Rivera is tall, long and patient. Those are all traits that a fighter would need to keep Davis honest. Will he pull off an upset? No, I don’t think he does. With that said, it would be fun while it lasts. Again, it would put Davis in a new city and grow his brand.
Isaac Cruz
Opponent: Isaac Cruz
City: Washington, D.C. (Capital One Arena)
I’m biased and I’m putting my dream scenario out there! As a Washington, D.C. resident, I have wanted a major fight to take place in the nation’s capital for a long time now. There have been a few decent fights at the Armory and other venues around the city, but there hasn’t been a major championship bout in the city for some time now. No, Davis is not a Washington, D.C. native, but Baltimore is not that far away. Furthermore, Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe is a Washington, D.C. native. Not to mention, Davis-Romero pulled Washington Commanders Defensive End Chase Young, former University of Maryland star Stefon Diggs and others with ties to the greater Washington, D.C. area to Brooklyn. Why not move the fight a bit closer to where they’re at? Audi Field? Capital One Arena?
Admittedly, a second bout with Isaac Cruz seems highly unlikely. PBC nor Mayweather Promotions have mentioned the possibility of a rematch. More importantly, Davis shot down the idea of a rematch back in December. With that said, Davis’s trainer, Calvin Ford, didn’t appear to be opposed to a second bout with the Mexican fighter when speaking with ESNews. Ultimately, Davis has the final say, but if he were to be persuaded otherwise, it would be fun.
