The WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis is set to defend his title against Frank Martin on June 15, 2024, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. However, Davis has expressed his dissatisfaction with the chosen venue. In a tweet that he later removed, Davis voiced his reluctance to fight in Las Vegas, stating his refusal to generate revenue for a city where he feels disrespected by the local fans.
Davis’ history with the MGM Grand Garden Arena dates back to his first fight in Las Vegas against Recky Dulay in 2015, which was his 12th professional bout. Since then, he has fought three more times in various Las Vegas arenas, including a high-profile match against Ryan Garcia the previous year. Following his recent comments, fans have been suggesting that he move the fight to his hometown of Baltimore, where he has only fought twice professionally, the last time being in 2019 against Ricardo Nunez.
In other news, Gervonta Davis has indicated his willingness to engage in a rematch with Ryan Garcia during an interview with Cigar Talk. Davis highlighted a specific condition for the rematch, proposing that the fight be at 140 pounds, unlike their previous bout which was contracted at 136 pounds. Davis, who handed Garcia his first career loss, emphasized the importance of the weight class, questioning why the fight couldn’t be at the weight he suggested.
Garcia, who recently secured a majority decision win over Devin Haney, has shown impressive form. Davis compared his own fight with Garcia to the one between Haney and Garcia, suggesting there was no significant difference in the performances. Fans interested in hearing more about Davis’ thoughts can find his full comments in a YouTube interview starting at the six-minute mark.
As the boxing community anticipates the upcoming fights, discussions continue to swirl around the potential venues and matchups. With Davis’ clear stance on fighting in Las Vegas and his openness to a rematch with Garcia at a different weight, the stage is set for intriguing developments in the lightweight boxing scene.
