Gervonta Davis vs. Hector Luis Garcia Fight Preview

 

 

Showtime Boxing PPV is starting off the boxing year with a high quality fight card. Big names like Gervonta Davis, Jaron Ennis and Demetrius Andrade will all be in action. 

https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/12508267/boxing-fight-schedule

Gervonta Davis is one of the hardest punchers in boxing with a dynamite left hook and power in both hands. Davis showcases exquisite timing, power, accuracy and a killer instinct. Davis can utilize angles and different combinations because of his footwork and small stature. At only 5’5, he sure does pack a punch and has become one of the best knockout artists in all of boxing. I had the pleasure of attending his last fight against Rolando Romero at the Barclays Center. 

Davis won via 6th Round knockout. The fight was an awkward one, with Romero making it difficult for Davis to get into an offensive rhythm because of his size, strength and use of angles. Even though Romero was stopped later on, he still gave a good account for himself. Davis, can change the fight with one punch and that’s what happened in the 6th Round when Romero walked right into a left hook that ended his night. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlzOOCxFkgg

The punch reminded me of when Manny Pacquiao walked right into the left hook of Juan Manuel Marquez back on December 8th, 2012. This was a vicious knockout that put Pacquiao out cold and was a huge moment for Manuel Marquez. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUuRAVveJq4

That’s what makes Davis a star, is that even when he’s losing or the fight is close, he can change the course of the fight with one punch. Davis has a difficult opponent with a great boxing acumen in Hector Luis Garcia. Garcia rose to prominence after getting a huge upset win over the talented Chris Colbert. Most boxing fans thought that Garcia was a stepping stone for Colbert to go onto bigger fights. But, sometimes these young boxers get humbled by the old professor and that’s exactly what happened in that fight. Garcia schooled Colbert and gave him a boxing lesson, which should make Colbert a better fighter going forward. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eggTuNP6Ckg

Garcia showed the ability to throw straight down the middle with intelligent combinations that didn’t allow Colbert the time to react and mount his own offense. Garcia also didn’t get hit much in that fight in what was a career defining performance. This gave the previously undefeated Colbert his first loss and he hasn’t fought since. Garcia is 31 and from the Dominican Republic, standing at 5’8 with a 69 inch reach. After the Colbert win he also beat Roger Gutierrez by unanimous decision back on August 20th to set up this huge opportunity against Gervonta Davis. Davis is 27-0 with 25 wins by knockout and 2 by decision. Garcia is 16-0 with 10 wins by knockout and 6 by decision with 3 No Contests. 

Garcia will most likely be the best pure boxer that Davis has faced in his career and he cannot take him lightly. If Davis wins he is scheduled to face Ryan Garcia next. Davis is 28, 5'5 with a 67.5 inch reach. Hector Luis Garcia has an excellent southpaw jab that he uses to keep his opponents at a distance and set up his combinations. Davis will need to utilize head movement and feints to try and draw Garcia into an unfavorable position. Davis will have a tough time against Garcia and this fight could go the distance. With Davis’ impending legal troubles and a tough opponent in front of him, an upset could be on the cards. Davis should still win this fight, but Garcia won’t make it easy.

Jaron Ennis fights in the Co-Main Event and this boxer is an absolute stud. Ennis has all the tools needed to be a tremendous boxer. Ennis has the power, boxing fundamentals, defense, footwork and a quick jab to beat his opponents with. I was also at his last fight against Custio Clayton, because he was on the fight card for the Jermell Charlo vs. Brain Castano II fight. Ennis impressed me with his ability to control the distance and deliver the knockout punch in the 2nd Round. Ennis won with an overhand right that caught Clayton behind the ear as he dipped his head down. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJfJIMpn6dM

Clayton was undefeated going into this fight with his most impressive win coming against Sergey Lipinets by majority decision. Ennis made easy work of this quality fighter and is poised to become a huge star in boxing. If Ennis beats Karen Chukadzhian on Saturday, then he could fight Keith Thurman, Conor Benn, Vergil Ortiz Jr. or Yordenis Ugas next. It’s time for Ennis to step up his level of opponents and make these big fights happen. 

There are so many big time match ups in the welterweight division and Ennis will figure prominently in those fights if he continues his upward trajectory. Expect Ennis to score a knockout victory and fight bigger names going forward. Ennis can hurt opponents with hooks, uppercuts or straight down the middle punches. Because of his ability to fight in different ways and change angles with great power and timing make him a just a tantalizing prospect. Ennis is 29-0 with 27 wins by knockout and 2 by decision with 1 No Contest. 

The much maligned Demetrius Andrade is also on this fight card. Andrade is a supremely talented defensive fighter that is widely criticized for not being offensive enough. Andrade hasn’t yet fought other big names which hasn’t helped his popularity in the boxing community. In his last fight he got a 2nd Round knockout win over Jason Quigley back in 2021. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC236Vvw6JQ

For Andrade to miss an entire year of his career and not fight in 2022 at the age of 34 is not favorable for improving his standing in boxing. Hopefully, 2023 is a more active year for Andrade and he can start the year off with a big win over Demond Nicholson. Andrade is 31-0 with 19 wins by knockout and 12 by decision. Expect a great night of fights on Showtime PPV.