GERVONTA DAVIS knocked out Leo Santa Cruz in sensational fashion with a stunning left uppercut.
Davis landed the shot in round six of what was a thrilling fight between the pair in front of a limited crowd at the Alamodome in Texas.
CON ARTIST
Conor McGregor claims he is is now ‘infinite times better’ than he was against Floyd Mayweather and is ‘excited to show’ it on his return.
The former UFC champion tweeted to praise Gervonta Davis’ stunning uppercut knockout against Leo Santa Cruz.
A fan replied by comparing the shot to one that McGregor landed on Mayweather in the opening stages of their 2017 boxing match.
According to the man himself, his ability has improved in the three years since, and he is waiting to prove it on his comeback.
McGregor, 32, posted: “They won’t let me fight again in 2020. But yes, that boxing bout was 3 years ago now.
“I am infinite times better than I was then. No question! Excited to show! Only got 40 seconds out the last time.”
WALK THE WALK
Gervonta Davis paid homage to his mentor’s famous Mexican ring attire that Floyd Mayweather wore against Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.
Mayweather dressed in the colours of Mexico and walked out with a sombrero the night he outpointed De La Hoya.
It elevated the American legend to the top of the sport and dethroned De La Hoya – who has Mexican parents – as boxing’s pay-per-view attraction.
Davis, 13 years later, replicated the move as he enjoyed his own breakout performance.
Fighting on pay-per-view for the first time, the Baltimore banger – known as ‘Tank’ – knocked out Mexico’s Leo Santa Cruz.
UPPER CLASS
It was Davis’s 24th win from 24 fights – and the first time Santa Cruz had been stopped.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
With Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko surrounding Gervonta Davis, the American has plenty of box office rivals.
But Floyd Mayweather insisted his protege is top of the pile.
He said: “So we don’t wanna come up here and call different names, we wanna fight him, we wanna fight him, we don’t want to do that.
“What we wanna do is let him go home, enjoy himself, his daughter, his family, his team, and then we will talk about that. 20-30 days from now, but he should be able to enjoy his victory.
“So we don’t wanna come up here and call different names, we wanna fight him, we wanna fight him, we don’t want to do that.
“What we wanna do is let him go home, enjoy himself, his daughter, his family, his team, and then we will talk about that. 20-30 days from now, but he should be able to enjoy his victory.”
PUNCH OF THE YEAR?
Gervonta Davis became a two-weight world champ and backed up the hype with the incredible upper cut in the sixth round.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Conor McGregor claims Gervonta Davis’ uppercut against Leo Santa Cruz was similar to the one he landed on Floyd Mayweather.
McGregor was beaten on his boxing debut by Mayweather in 2017, but landed a counter left hand in the early rounds of the fight.
And he says it was reminiscent of the shot Davis – who is promoted by Mayweather – caught Santa Cruz with to knock out the Mexican.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
NBA legend LeBron James was left stunned after Tank Davis’ stunning stoppage against Leo Santa Cruz.
The LA Lakers star reacted to the uppercut KO on Twitter.
He posted: “Knockout of the Year!! My GOODNESS!! Night Night.”
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Floyd Mayweather talks up Gervonta Davis’ star power as a pay-per-view attraction after beating Leo Santa Cruz.
He said: “If anybody can become a household name this kid right here got all the skills.
“I’m so proud of him.”
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Here’s a ringside look at Gervonta Davis going to work on the body of Leo Santa Cruz.
Davis invested heavily in body shots leading up to the KO.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Tank Davis sent out a statement to the super-featherweight and lightweight division.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
UFC star Conor McGregor has had his say on Gervonta Davis’ stunning KO.
McGregor tweeted: “My lord! What a vicious uppercut that was.
“Praying for the health and safety of Santa Cruz there. The young man “Tank” Davis has some serious venom in that back hand shot. Incredible!”
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Gervonta Davis knocked out Leo Santa Cruz in sensational fashion with a stunning left uppercut.
Davis landed the shot in round six of what was a thrilling fight between the pair in front of a limited crowd at the Alamodome in Texas.
He began the opening stages of the fight on the back foot, as Santa Cruz came forward with combinations.
The Baltimore banger, known as ‘Tank, looked to land the more telling single blows, whereas Santa Cruz was throwing in numbers.
As the early rounds racked up, Davis began to find his rhythm and judge range better, scoring with left uppercuts and lead right hooks.
Santa Cruz’s speed was still apparent, which forced his man onto the ropes, but the Mexican lacked the power to really put a dent in Davis.By round four, Santa Cruz looked to be slowing down as he began to retreat backwards.
Davis, walking his smaller opponent down, started to invest in body punching as the fight played out on the inside.
Heading into round five, the American star did so on top, as Mayweather let out a celebration ringside.
Santa Cruz continued to plod forward but began to get countered, as Davis’ jab and body shots caught the eye.
As the bell sounded for the sixth, Santa Cruz got back on the front foot and the pair began to trade heavy hooks in close.
Davis landed with a big uppercut but was immediately countered and appeared momentarily wobbled.
He retaliated by forcing Santa Cruz into the corner, where he unleashed the show-stopping left uppercut.
Davis slipped on the outside and bowled in an uppercut that bounced off Santa Cruz’s chin and left the 32-year-old knocked out cold.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Here is Gervonta Davis’ stunning knockout against Leo Santa Cruz.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Davis walks away with the WBA super-featherweight and ‘Regular’ lightweight belts. But he is happy to carry on campaigning at both weights.
He said: “I’ll maintain it at both. Whatever best decision that my team and I come up with we’ll go with it but the best opportunity to fight, I’m not ducking or dodging nobody.
“As you know, there’s no safety on this block.
“I’m a pay-per-view star, second I ain’t ducking or dodging nobody, they know what it is, I’m No1, it showed tonight.”
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Davis adds: “He was just right there for it. He’s a guy that he punches but he doesn’t try and get out of the way when he punches.
“There’s nowhere he could have went as the ropes were there, that’s how a professional fighter knows, they adapt to the fight.
“He’s a tough warrior a strong Mexican, he came to fight, he came ready but I was just a better person tonight.”
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Davis said: “Once we started fighting, you could see in the first round I didn’t really warm up in the back, so when I got there I was still cold.
“I threw my jab and he threw back, I throw again and he throw back, so I’m like he’s trying to counter off my counter.
“I just adapted.”
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Davis knocks out Santa Cruz with an amazing left uppercut.
As the two were trading shots on the inside, Davis slipped on the outside and delivered the perfect shot down the middle.
Santa Cruz was out cold.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Round 6
Fight is being contested in close quarters this round but it’s Davis now walking down Santa Cruz.
Davis lands some big uppercuts and hooks but Santa Cruz replies with a massive shot to wobble Tank.
SANTA CRUZ IS KO’D!
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Round 5
Davis is beginning to counter punch Santa Cruz, as the Mexican champion plods forward.
Confidence is starting to grow for Davis as he finds his rhythm.
Davis landed some telling jabs and body shots in round five.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Round 4
Both boxers trade shots on the inside as an uppercut and hook lands for Davis.
Santa Cruz appears to have slowed down in his combination punching here as Davis begins to invest in body shots.
Floyd Mayweather is cheering his man on ringside.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Round 3
Davis lands a great left uppercut but Santa Cruz is walking him down.
Slick combo lands for Davis as he then slips the counter, good work from Tank as he ends the round strong.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Round 2
Santa Cruz is throwing in more numbers but Davis is looking for single, more powerful shots.
Davis shoves Santa Cruz to the floor as the main event really heats up!
Santa Cruz backs Davis onto the ropes and lets go of a combination – good start from the underdog.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Round 1
Here we go! We are underway…
Davis lands an early uppercut and begins to stick out his jab early.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Here comes Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis…
It is the 25-year-old’s first PPV fight and he is looking to make a statement here.
DAVIS VS SANTA CRUZ
Santa Cruz is making his way to the ring.
The four-division champion defends his WBA super-featherweight belt.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
