GERVONTA DAVIS is set to jump up TWO weight classes to take on Mario Barrios this summer.
A showdown between the WBA super-featherweight champion and the undefeated Barrios is reportedly in the works.
WBA Super-featherweight champion Gervonta Davis (R) is set to fight at 140lbs nextCredit: AP
A fight with Mario Barrios is currently in the works for TankCredit: Getty
But according to The Athletic, there’s currently no timeframe or venue in mind for the shock bout.
Davis’ apparent move up to super-lightweight has divided boxing fans, who took to Twitter to express their thoughts on the proposed contest.
One fan tweeted: “Tank is so unserious.
“So many good fights at 130 and 135 but he’s going up to 140 where he’ll be undersized massively and TR control all the belts
“Needs to just control his weight and fight at 130/135.”
Another said: “Can we agree that this move would be the same as Canelo moving up to 168 to win a belt against a paper champion in Rocky Fielding?
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“I mean it’s the WBA regular we are talking after all.”
And another said: “Does he realize Barrios doesn’t hold a real belt? Those are on the line between [Josh] Taylor and [Jose] Ramirez.”
One boxing fan, however, defended the match-up, saying: “Tank jumping up 10 pounds to fight an undefeated 5’11 champion with an 70 inch reach and tank is 5’5.
“If tank wins he will hold three titles in 130 , 135 and 140 all at the same time. P4P top 7 for sure.”
Davis’ decision to move up in weight instead of pursuing fights against one of the other lightweight standouts has perplexed many, especially after Teofimo Lopez’s recent call-out.
Gervonta Davis is a long-time protege of Floyd MayweatherCredit: Scott Hirano/Showtime PPV
Unified lightweight king Lopez told DAZN: “It’s got to be… I would love to fight ‘Tank’ Davis. I would love to knock him out.”
He added: “A lot of people talk about it, that it would be a 50-50 fight.
“If we mentioned Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia, the guy everyone thinks will be a 50-50 fight will be me and ‘Tank’ Davis.
“Even if I don’t think it will be. I know what I bring to the table.”
Davis, 26, was last in action against Leo Santa Cruz in October 2019.
The Baltimore bruiser scored a sickening one-punch KO victory in the sixth-round of their Texas showdown, which immediately went viral.
Gervonta Davis says once he saw Leo Santa Cruz fall he went into a different mode and worried if he was ok
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
