Gervonta Davis (22-0, 21 KOs) did what we all were expecting this past Saturday night.
He brutally knocked out Ricardo Nunez (21-3, 19 KOs) in the second round of their contest that took place in Davis hometown Baltimore, on July 27, 2019.
It was a great showing by the young two time champion, but one that won’t truly move the needle. We all know how good Davis is.
Everyone around him has been lauding him as boxing’s next big star. It might be true, but before that can happen, he needs to prove himself just a bit more.
No longer will Davis receive credit for destroying lower level opposition. It’s time for him to prove his worth by taking a massive step up in competition.
Yuriorkis Gamboa
Amanda Westcott/Showtime
Hear me out for a second. Yuriorkis Gamboa (30-2, 18 KOs) was once considered one of the best fighters in the world. Now the age of 37, he is far past his prime.
Struggles with inactivity have helped lead to his downfall as a fighter. The career of Gamboa has largely been a disappointment. He has had all of the skills in the world but has always had issues with focus.
Although he still is not as active as he should, Gamboa is currently riding a four-fight winning streak. He also had an impressive knockout win over former champion, although heavily faded, Roman Martinez.
For Gamboa, this would effectively be his last chance at a title. Davis would be the huge favorite going into this contest, but Gamboa would provide him with a significant step up in competition.
Andrew Cancio
Tom Hogan-Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
Gervonta Davis currently holds the WBA Super Featherweight title, while Andrew Cancio (21-4-2, 16 KOs) holds the regular version of that same belt.
A match between these two would have been laughed at as early as a year ago. My oh my how quickly things can change in the world of boxing.
With back to back victories over Alberto Machado, the former resulting in him winning that aforementioned world title, Cancio has now solidified himself as one of the very best in the division.
Cancio is still somewhat viewed as a pretender. Both he and Davis need a credible win. It isn’t the name that fans want to see Davis against, but it would be a fight that could cause him serious issues.
Tevin Farmer
Marilyn Paulino/RBRBoxing
Reigning IBF Super Featherweight champion Tevin Farmer (30-4-1, 6 KOs) is a classic example of don’t judge a book by its cover. Losses by a fighter are often condemned, Farmer has four of them.
He has has also been stopped in two of those defeats. Ever since a 2012 stoppage loss at the hands of Jose Pedraza, Farmer has not loss since. He is by far the most active champion regardless of weight class as he has had five fights in the span of roughly one year.
Gervonta Davis is power puncher. Once he lands his money shot, fighters typically go down. Farmer, doesn’t allow his opponents to get in a position for that to happen. His ability to dodge punches are unbelievable. There is no way around it. Davis has fought weak opposition up until this point in his career.
Farmer would by far be the best opponent he has ever faced. Farmer my not have the power to force Davis back, but he does have the ability to out box him.
These two also have a long history of disdain for one another, which would make a contest between the two that more compelling.
