The “Tank” Davis road show returns to Los Angeles for a return to the lightweight limit for the first time since late 2019. Davis and his team are still answering questions about his quality of opposition, and those questions are gradually being addressed over the last few fights with bigger fights possible in the near future. There is no question the strategy of making him a coast-to-coast ticket attraction is working.

Davis, an explosive knockout artist, is a star whose ceiling in that regard isn’t reached yet.

For Sunday night (Showtime PPV, 8 PM EST), a replacement foe in this case appears on paper to be a win for fight fans. Issac Cruz is a solid top ten opponent and one who is getting a chance to show if he’s more. Lineal lightweight king George Kambosos will be in the house, just as he was for Saturday’s Devin Haney-Joseph Diaz bout.

The night ended with Kambosos telling Haney, “Now we can talk.” Will Davis win here and show interest in interjecting in that conversation? 

Let’s get into it. 

Stats and Stakes

Gervonta Davis 

Age: 27

Titles: None*

Previous Titles: IBF Super Featherweight (2017, 1 Defense); WBA Super Featherweight (2018-19, 2 Defenses; 2020-21)

Height: 5’5 ½  

Weight: 134 ½ lbs.

Stance: Southpaw

Hails from: Baltimore, Maryland

Record: 25-0, 24 KO

Press Rankings: At 135 - #1 (BoxRec), #3 (ESPN), #8 (TBRB); At 140 - #3 (ESPN), #6 (TBRB, Ring)

Record in Major Title Fights: 6-0, 6 KO (8-0, 8 KO including WBA sub-titles)

Last Five Opponents: 153-9-1 (.942)

Notable Outcomes, Ring/TBRB Rated Foes: Jose Pedraza TKO7; Leo Santa Cruz KO6; Mario Barrios TKO11

Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Hugo Ruiz KO1; Yuriorkis Gamboa TKO12

*Holds WBA sub-titles at lightweight and Jr. welterweight   

Vs.

Isaac Cruz 

Age: 28

Title/Previous Titles: None

Height: 5’4  

Weight: 134 ¼ lbs.

Stance: Orthodox

Hails from: Mexico City, Mexico

Record: 22-1-1 (15 KO)

Press Rankings: #6 (TBRB), #9 (Ring)

Record in Major Title Fights: N/A

Last Five Opponents: 110-15-5 (.865)

Notable Outcomes, Ring/TBRB Rated Foes: None

Additional Current/Former Titlists Faced: Francisco Vargas UD10

The Pick: It’s hard to think this fight won’t be entertaining. The question going in is how competitive it will be. Cruz is going to bring the fight, coming forward and looking to land some big stuff. How does Cruz handle the incoming? If he can stand up to Davis’s power, stay at mid-to-close range, and force some exchanges, this one could have some moments of drama. The problem for the shorter, and shorter armed, Cruz will be more than power in hoping to win. Davis has better head and foot movement, faster hands, and an uppercut and lead hook that will be harder against a charging target. This feels like the sort of fight anyone can enjoy but not one where the winner is in doubt. The pick is Davis by stoppage.  

Rold Picks 2021: 43-13

Cliff Rold is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene, a founding member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, a member of the International Boxing Research Organization, and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America.  He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com