Gervonta Davis had a year out of the ring but quickly got back to knockout ways against Frank Martin.
The two southpaws faced off in Las Vegas on June 15 and Martin banked some early rounds as ‘Tank’ opponents often do. Slowly but surely, the Baltimore puncher got closer to his target and let more shots go.
It was the eighth when he landed a devastating left uppercut followed by a left hook that left Martin on the canvas with his undefeated record up in smoke. A successful first WBA Lightweight World title defence from Davis and a reminder to the rest in the division of the power he carries.
One rival who wasn’t particularly impressed was Shakur Stevenson, current WBC Champion and potential ‘Tank’ suitor. Speaking in an interview with Deep Cut, Shakur said Martin fought like an amateur on the night.
“I thought it was a professional fighter versus an amateur. People not gonna understand what I mean by that, but I think Tank was more a pro, Frank was an amateur.
For example, when I’m in the gym with the amateur kids and stuff, in the early rounds I’m just letting them waste they’re energy and tire themselves out. Once you see that they’re tired and weak, you step up the pace. You start picking it up on them.
With Frank and Tank, from round one he was already beat cause he wasted all his energy. Round five, his punches were up, he ain’t have no more left. Tank seen that and got rid of him.”
Stevenson returns to action this weekend against Artem Harutyunyan, a former Martin opponent. Should he win, he has made it clear he wants a unification with either Davis or the IBF Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko, but those two are more likely to face one another.
