One of the most anticipated boxing events of the year is 48 hours away, and boxing fans and pundits couldn’t be more excited. Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia, two of boxing’s biggest attractions. And since the official announcement of this fight, fans and pundits have debated who they think will win.
In keeping with our fight-week tradition, the crew at NYFIGHTS and friends have turned in their picks and breakdowns of who they think wins this exciting showdown.
Gervonta Davis has the edge in the NYFights prediction page, with writers and pundits foreseeing him beating Ryan Garcia Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia, a face off before their face-off.
Michael Woods (Founder, NYFights): Davis by KO
Tank’s got battering power. And with that, he also happens to be a superb ring general. Doesn’t make many mistakes and is superlative at making foes pay for theirs. Ryan will make it fun; he will open up, take risks, and leave himself open for thudding hooks. Stoppage level hooks. The winner of Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia: Tank by stoppage round 3.
Colin Morrison (UK Editor for NYFights): Garcia, by decision
I suspect I may be in the minority here, but I think Ryan Garcia will get the job done. His speed and extra height, and reach will help him immensely in this contest. Gervonta Davis’ tendency to start slow will allow Garcia to take an early lead on the cards. He’ll take confidence from this and box smart the rest of the way to win on the scorecards. The shouts for a rematch will start before the post-fight beers have been cracked open.
Jake Donovan (Senior Writer for BoxingScene): Davis KO
Weirdly, I’ve had the same feeling about this fight from the moment it was first aggressively discussed by both parties. It will be competitive for as long as it lasts. At some point, Davis will do what he does best—eventually, find that one shot that either ends the fight in an instant or forever changes the course of the bout. I’m going with the latter. Garcia will have more than his share of moments, but Davis will slowly break him down and stop him somewhere around the 9th or 10th round.
Read more of Jake’s take on the scrap here.
Lucas Kettelle, (Podcaster, writer): Davis wins
Resumes matter. In Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia, I’m taking Tank based on experience against higher-level fighters, as well as an ability to turn offense into defense and defense into offense.
Gervonta Davis looks relaxed as he counts down to his April 22 fight versus Ryan Garcia Gervonta Davis when learning that Lucas Ketelle likes him to beat Ryan Garcia (Esther Lin photo)
Gayle Falkenthal, (West Coast chief, NYFights): Garcia by decision
Speed kills in boxing. Speed will be Ryan Garcia’s best asset. If he can fire off jabs, move and use angles to set up his left hook, he can defeat Gervonta Davis. Garcia should take advantage of Davis’s tendency to start slowly and win all the early rounds. As long as Garcia doesn’t get caught by anything serious, he can win. Joe Goossen needs to keep his Diego Corrales pep talk handy. Yep, I’m going there: Garcia by decision.
Click here to read Gayle’s guide on what’s going on during fight week.
David Phillips, (Writer, NYFights, Awards Daily): Garcia split decision
In the battle of who has built their name on the backs of sub-standard or faded fighters, I’m going to give the slight edge to Garcia. He’s fought (slightly) better comp, and the talent is evident. Davis doesn’t lack for the latter, but he’s been protected at a monumental level. This is a scrap with no obvious favorite because neither has built their resume upon a solid foundation, but I’m expecting an overly cautious fight that Garcia pulls out by a close, perhaps split decision.
Stephen “Breadman” Edwards (Boxing Trainer): Davis KO
In shootouts with big punchers, usually, the better boxer wins. Hagler vs. Mugabi, Hearns vs. Cuevas, McCallum vs. Jackson, Tyson vs. Ruddock, in all those cases, the better boxer won because he put himself into position to land huge shots more often and he also defended the opponent’s big shots better. In a fight like this, the fighter who makes the least mistakes will usually win. If you objectively consider these things, Tank has the advantages.
Tank Davis is a minimalist. He’s efficient and economical in his approach. He doesn’t make big mistakes. He loses rounds, but it’s a calculating type of thing. But that’s where Ryan’s chances may lie. If Tank gets down big on the cards, can he turn it around and up his activity? He usually lands a big shot, but it’s different if you have to chip away and win one round at a time, like Ward had to do vs. Kovalev in their first fight.
I feel Ryan can win, but I don’t think he will.
By this point, we should know more about Ryan as a pro. He should have taken the tune-up fight he was offered. He’s been brought along for the big moment, but there have been some holes in his progression. As Cliff Rold said, “Garcia’s matchmaking is reminiscent of Gerry Cooney’s, who was geared for the big fight vs. Holmes but didn’t really go through the progressions that he needed to win.” In an entertaining fight where both hit the canvas, Davis KOs him during an exchange-a violent exchange.
Ryan Garcia takes it in during a press conference to hype his April 22, 2023 bout versus Gervonta Davis Breadman lays out a thorough and concise take on why he’s liking Gervonta Davis over Ryan Garcia (Photo: Esther LIn, Showtime Boxing)
Ryan O’Hara (Writer, NYFIGHTS): Davis KO
I’m not going to mince words here. Garcia did not look good at all at that open workout. Tank in 5. Read more from O’Hara, on why he’s liking Gervonta to prevail
Michael Montero (Montero On Boxing): Davis by decision
If the Gervonta Davis vs Ryan Garcia fight were at the full 140-pound junior welterweight division limit with no rehydration clause, I’d favor Garcia by decision. But I think his team made too many concessions in the negotiations; he will be depleted in this fight. Give me Gervonta Davis by (possibly controversial) decision in a mostly technical fight with occasional bursts of action.
