Gervonta Davis: Frank Martin Will Need to Be Ready for ‘a Different Beast’

Gervonta “Tank” Davis has threatened to take out 14 months of frustration on Frank Martin when they fight on June 15.

The 29-year-old Davis will defend his WBA lightweight title against his rival at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, having remained inactive since stopping Ryan Garcia at a catchweight of 136 pounds in April 2023.

In the aftermath of his biggest victory, Davis was sentenced to 90 days of home detention at the home of his trainer, Calvin Ford, after he pleaded guilty to four counts stemming from a crash in November 2020 that injured four people, including a pregnant woman. He then served 44 days at a detention center after a judge ruled on June 1 that he violated the terms of his house arrest by moving to a luxury hotel and then a new home; less than two weeks after defeating Garcia, Davis was also sentenced to three years’ probation and 200 hours of community service.

Davis has similarly since seen his rivals Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney enhance their reputations – and Garcia talk of a rematch following his victory in April over Haney – before agreeing to return to the ring for his biggest test to date.

“I’m definitely looking forward to, all around the board, just being back in the ring,” Davis said. “I’ve been off for a long time, I’ve been in jail, I’ve been under house arrest and things like that. I’m just happy to be back here where I’m comfortable. I could be flawless and do what I do best, and that’s give you fans the best boxing you’ve seen to date. 

“Come June 15 – I ain’t ready with a load of talk. [Martin’s] a frontrunner. They think they thugs and s*** like that, but I’m telling you, it’s a different beast in front of him. It’s a different beast. Nobody is going to be able to save him June 15, and it’s a lot of s*** built up. It’s a lot built up, and I’m [going to] take it out on him. I’ll see y’all June 15.”

Davis’ profile as one of the world’s highest-profile fighters owes much to his former association with Floyd Mayweather Jr. He was present at the MGM the night in 2012 when Mayweather outpointed Miguel Cotto, and is relishing the prospect of being the lead attraction at one of the most celebrated fight venues in the world.

“I’m just happy to be back in the mix, and happy to fight at the MGM,” he said. “This will probably be my second time fighting here, but I remember coming to watch Floyd versus Cotto, and I walked through the front door and I see all the celebrities and things like that; mink coats on and things like that. I always wanted to be a part of something like this, so I’m just grateful to be in this position, and also to be on this card with another young lion like myself, and to give the fans what they want to see.”

Since Davis-Garcia, which proved the biggest fight of 2023, Martin – who trains alongside Garcia at Derrick James’ Texas-based gym – has recorded a decision victory over Artem Harutyunyan.

“It’s a blessing just to be here,” said the challenger Martin, also 29. “It’s a blessing just to get this type of opportunity to come here and show the world what I’m about. I’ve got to say hats off – I appreciate Gervonta Davis for even taking the fight. I believe they f***** up by taking the fight, but I do appreciate them giving me this opportunity to show the world what I’m about. I’m ready to go out and shock the world and do what I do – do what people think I can’t do.

“It means everything [to fight for a world title]. I been working for it – I been the underdog in this since I started, from the beginning. I been watching everything. I know how his a** walk. I’m [going to] touch his a** up. I know how him and his whole team walk.”