“I touch that jaw and I’m telling you, you’re going to sleep. I’ll probably break your jaw.” – Davis
“Everything is coming to a halt for you on Saturday night. You’re gonna learn the hard way.” – Garcia
Undefeated Gervonta “Tank” Davis and “King” Ryan Garcia went faced off for after the final press conference before they meet this Saturday, April 22 in a SHOWTIME PPV production from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday from KÀ Theatre at MGM Grand:
GERVONTA DAVIS
“All he talks about is that one punch. I only need one too. I touch that jaw and I’m telling you, you’re going to sleep. I’ll probably break your jaw.
“We’re here. Enough with the talking. I’m ready to get down and dirty. I’m from Baltimore city and you’ll see how we turn it come Saturday. See y’all then.
“He’s gonna feel me for sure. I am what I say I am. I’m that guy. I didn’t get all the way here for no reason. I put the work in and I got those guys out of there. He’s gonna see it come Saturday night for sure.
“Don’t forget I’m the most accurate puncher out there. Make sure you’ve been practicing on putting your hands up.
“He’s getting his ass whooped. It’s gonna be an exciting fight. I’m excited to be here. I don’t know about him, but I’m coming with some stuff for sure.
“He doesn’t have the fundamentals at all. If Joe Goossen is that great of a trainer, he’s gotta fix his fundamentals. All he’s got is that weak hook. That’s all he’s relying on.
“He’s delusional if he thinks he’s knocking me out. That’s it.”
RYAN GARCIA
“Everything is catching up to you. Everything is coming to a halt for you on Saturday night. You’re gonna learn the hard way.
“What an honor to be here. This is a dream come true. I’m seeing my face on the big screens at MGM and this is what I’ve dreamed of since I was a little boy. I’m very happy and excited.
“I don’t have much to say really, I’m just staying focused and preparing. I know there’s a big task at hand, but I’m gonna come out victorious.
“He’s gonna find out exactly why I’m here. You don’t get to this position without having something special. Anybody can see that. We’ll just have to wait and see when I’m in there. He’ll see it when I’m in there.
“This man has never punished anyone in his life. He’s always losing in these fights. Get that out of your mind. You’re gonna get punished. You got the lowest punch output in boxing.
“This is the biggest moment in sports right now. It means a lot. The magnitude of this fight is huge. Everything is already on the line. I’m just ready to go as deep as I have to. This moment is everything to me. I’ve envisioned this for years and it’s finally here.
“I just need one shot. That left hook. I feel like I’m gonna break his jaw with that hook. I just see him lying on the floor.
“I’m ready to do what I do. I’m gonna end him, I promise that. It’s over.”
CALVIN FORD, Davis’ Trainer
“Here we go again with another one. I don’t do too much talking. We do it in the ring. Be prepared Saturday night, because it’s on. In the words of my coaching partner Kenny Ellis, we’re going to put some knuckles on somebody.
“Ryan says he’s the king, but this is vicious right here. I ain’t never seen a king hold his kingdom down when you have a vicious crew come through. We are coming through. We are vicious. We aren’t just boxing. We’re doing this. Come Saturday night, be prepared. Stop playin’ with my youngin’.
“I don’t train for knockouts. I train for punishment. I want you to feel it. I’m sending the message to everyone, through you. You will see.”
JOE GOOSSEN, Garcia’s Trainer
“I’m not going to have a war of words with anybody because the real war is going to be Saturday night between two great fighters. This is one of the most exceptional matches put together in a long time. The interest in this fight has been unbelievable.
“Ryan Garcia is one of the most uniquely talented fighters I’ve ever been involved with in a half of a century. People know me and I don’t mess around.
“I’ve never seen anybody train as hard, or focus as much as Ryan has. He has a deep faith. He has a deep faith in himself as well. I just can’t say enough great things about him. He’s going to bring something very special to the ring Saturday, I can guarantee that.”
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“It’s happening folks. Make no mistake about it, this is a super fight. It’s one of the biggest that can be made in boxing and the best fight of 2023.
“It’s not often in today’s game that we see two young fighters, both undefeated, both in their prime, step into the ring together.
“We always hear about styles make fights and in this case, it’s never been more true. This fight will be an instant classic and an all-out war. This is going to be like Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns, and in ‘Tank’ Davis, we have Hagler.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, Boxing Promoter
“The talk is done, it’s go time this Saturday. The biggest fight in boxing.
“We believe in Tank 1000%. So when it comes to what Oscar says, he has no room to talk about anything. We carry ourself like the A-side because that’s what we are.
“It’s going to be Tank Davis by KO, like I’ve been saying, and it might be early.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA,
Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“I truly believe that the winner of this fight will be the new king of the sport. As someone who spent most of his early life in the ring, I know firsthand what it takes to compete at the highest level. This is the highest level. I look at Ryan and I know he’s ready. I look at Ryan’s team and they know he’s ready.
“When I look at ‘Tank’s’ team’s action throughout the whole promotion, I am left to wonder, ‘Do they really think this guy is ready?’ Catchweights and rehydration clauses. Late afternoon weigh ins. All these small petty requirements point to a team looking to protect their fighter, and why would they protect their fighter, unless they don’t think he’s ready for this moment? I really believe that ‘Tank’s’ team is worried he’s going to lose. When you’re a young fighter, nothing feels worse than your team not believing in you.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President, SHOWTIME Sports
“We’re thrilled to bring you this fight in collaboration with DAZN PPV and we’re proud to once again be delivering the strongest schedule in the sport.
“SHOWTIME has delivered 14 marquee events in just the first six months of the year, and this is our ninth live boxing event in the last 11 weeks. It’s one of the hottest runs in the history of SHOWTIME BOXING®.
“This Saturday we have one of the hottest fights of the year. Two fighters with different personalities, different fan bases, and very different styles in the ring. This is a battle of the two most popular fighters in the U.S. Both are huge draws. Both are coming off very impressive performances; ‘Tank’ Davis winning by TKO over Hector Luis Garcia, and Ryan Garcia last fought in July against former title holder Javier Fortuna.
“’Tank’ is a five-time champion in three different weight classes. He has sold out venues in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Baltimore, Brooklyn, and Washington, D.C. Three of his last six wins have been one-punch KOs and 18 of his last 19 opponents have been stopped. The combined record of his last 13 opponents is 138 wins and 12 losses.
“Ryan Garcia probably has the fastest hands in boxing. Everyone talks about Ryan’s social media following, but that’s not really the important thing. Just because he has a big social media following doesn’t mean he’s not one of the most talented boxers in the sport because he clearly is, and everyone talks about his speed. But that’s not the only thing. Ryan Garcia has knockouts in six of his last seven fights, including over Fortuna this past July.”
