GERVONTA DAVIS scored a stunning 12th round knockout as brave Yuriorkis Gamboa fought for the majority of the fight with a ruptured Achilles.
Floyd Mayweather protege Davis opened his move up to lightweight with a shot at the WBA ‘Regular’ title – and left his mark.
Gervonta Davis beat Yuriorkis Gamboa for the WBA ‘Regular’ title
Gamboa was on the floor as early as the second round as he fell victim to a solid left hand from 25-year-old Tank.
The veteran, 38, rose to his feet and survived the round but did so after suffering an ankle injury that doctors confirmed was a ruptured Achilles post-fight.
Davis would go on to dominate the bout and again had his man on the floor in the eighth, this time with a lead right-hook starting the onslaught.
The former super-featherweight champion swarmed Gamboa before landing a slashing left hand that decked the Cuban.
It was not the last time Davis’ southpaw left would cause Gamboa a world of trouble as the finish came in the final two minutes.
As the Baltimore favourite went in search of a devastating uppercut his durable ex-world champion opponent somehow stayed on his feet.
But as Gamboa took a slight step back Davis rocketed in a left hand that sent him reeling backwards on the seat of his pants and ref Jack Reiss had finally seen enough.
Davis scored three knockdowns in the title win
Gamboa fought for the majority of the right with a ruptured Achilles
After the win, newly crowned two-weight champion Davis warned super-featherweight and lightweight champions that he is the “top dog”.
He said: “As you see in the ring, I was catching and hurting him but he was still there. I knew he was better than anyone I had fought before.
“I was mainly focused on catching him with clean shots. So I was catching him with clean shots and wasn’t hurting him. I knew I was in for rounds tonight.
“It was a great experience. I’m only 25 years old.
“I’m learning each and every day. 2020 will be a big year. I feel comfortable at both weights. I feel I could fight at 130 or 135. I’m the top dog. Bring ‘em on.”
Resilient Gamboa said: “I think I ruptured my Achilles tendon before I fell in the second round,
“I’m a warrior and I kept going. But as soon as I felt it I knew it was ruptured.
“I couldn’t put pressure on it but I wanted to keep going. I told my corner it was a problem but I wanted to keep going because I’m a warrior. I’m going to keep going. 135 is my weight. I want to stay there.”
US star Davis poses after becoming a two-division champion
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
