


A grin appeared across Gervonta Davis’ face before he cut off The Post’s question.
He wanted to clarify exactly “who’s the most talented?”
It was in response to the beginning of an inquiry about what makes the difference between two of the most talented fighters in boxing.
Davis went out of his way to make it clear that only one fighter in the ring during his megafight against Ryan Garcia will be one of the most talented in boxing, and that the two fighters are on far different levels.
“The difference? Listen, you’ve got to have the whole package,” Davis told The Post. “I don’t think he has that. I don’t think so. I think he just relies on his power and his speed. But you need to have much more than just speed and power to be an all-around, sound fighter.”
Despite Davis’ sentiment, this has all the makings to be the fight of the year.
One of the most electric and enthralling knockout artists at the height of his powers.
One of the fastest-rising stars with one of the largest followings of any athlete across sports.
Two undefeated fighters, in boxing’s most-anticipated bout in a while.
Davis (28-0, 26 KO’s) squares off with Garcia (23-0, 19 KO’s) Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as the main event on Showtime’s pay-per-view card in a 12-round bout at a 136-pound catchweight.
It will also be available on PPV.com.
The 28-year-old Davis, a Baltimore native and former super featherweight champion, has slugged his way toward the top of the lightweight rankings and emerged as one of the biggest attractions in the sport.
Despite Devin Haney being the division’s undisputed champion, Davis owns the WBA “regular” title — the lesser of the organization’s two titles.
“Tank” Davis enters the clash as a pretty significant favorite, and although he acknowledges it’s his toughest and biggest test yet, he didn’t mince words about his respect for Garcia’s ability inside the ring.
Davis has suggested that Garcia’s rise has largely been because of his social media following and influencer tendencies, not his accolades in the ring.
“I don’t really look too highly of his boxing skills, but he has decent skills,” Davis said. “I mean, it got him here, so I guess it’s better than the average.”
The 24-year-old Garcia, a Los Alamitos, Calif. native, has brought himself to this moment — a fight that has been billed as determining the face of boxing — much quicker than most would be able to.
His lightning-quick hand speed has commanded attention, but it’s largely been his charisma and appeal outside the ring that’s sped up his ascension.
He boasts 9.6 million Instagram followers and 5.3 million TikTok followers, and has routinely collaborated with celebrities and other star athletes, including a Gatorade commercial with Damian Lillard.
Garcia is Ring Magazine’s No. 3-ranked lightweight and the WBA’s No. 1-ranked lightweight contender, but he has fought above that weight limit in his last two bouts.
“Just paying attention and being aware of the world around me,” Garcia told The Post. “And understanding what you must do to gain attraction. I just have a lot of God-given wisdom on how to move around. And social media, I just know how to do it. And I know how to post videos that can attract more fans to the sport. And it’s just a blessing.
“And then I go into the ring and I give them knockouts. It’s not complicated. You just have to have it within you, and then trust that. Social media is a huge part of that, but what I’ve done in the ring has birthed a lot of viral moments.”
The bout is expected to be one of, if not the most, profitable of the year across boxing, and will have major ramifications both in the lightweight division and throughout the sport.
Both fighters possess one-shot knockout power, and after years of calling each other out, enough vitriol to make the bout personal.
“There’s a reason that I’m right here in this position,” Garcia said. “And he’s gonna see that when we step in the ring. I’m confident because I know myself. I know who I am. I know what I possess.
“I’m confident in it. I know that I’ve done the work, I know that I’ve done everything that I’ve needed to do. I didn’t cheat the game. That’s why I’m here. I just do what I’ve always done. I’m just me, Ryan Garcia, that’s why I’m gonna win.”