Gervonta “Tank” Davis left no doubt about his position at the top of the Mayweather Promotions stable with an emphatic sixth-round TKO of Rolando “Rolly” Romero last night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
“We did it again in New York City, baby,” Davis said during the post-fight interview. “Thank New York City. I won my first belt here, it was great to do it in New York City and do it again, man.”
By the numbers, the fighters both took an economical approach, with Davis landing 25 punches to Romero’s 22 in the fight and giving Romero the room to stalk him and ironically, look like the ring general. However, Romero, who typically leaves himself open in close quarters, did so at 2:49 in the sixth to his detriment, catching Davis’ signature overhand left that separated Rolly from his consciousness.
GOODNIGHT BROOKLYN 😴@Gervontaa KOs Romero in round 6 with a POWER left hand 😳#DavisRomero pic.twitter.com/O9KPaxRvHi
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 29, 2022
Saved By The Ropes
Romero was saved by the ropes, which stopped his imminent plunge out of the squared circle. He attempted to hold himself up with the ropes, but after getting back to his feet on wobbly legs and glassed-over eyes, Romero could not continue. After non-compliance with the referee’s request to walk toward him, the fight was waved off for Romero’s safety.
Davis scored the 25th finish of his career, settling the intra-promotional beef between them. The two were first supposed to fight last December, but Romero had potential criminal allegations alleged against him in his native Las Vegas that eventually were dropped.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – MAY 28: Gervonta Davis knocks out Rolando Romero with a left hook in the sixth round during their fight for Davis’ WBA World lightweight title at Barclays Center on May 28, 2022 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
The Maturation of Tank Davis
“I was thinking as this interview was coming up, as much as I wanted to be cocky, but I want to thank Rolly, I want to thank his team, we settled it like a man in the ring, and I wish him the best in the future.
“I knew that it was all about selling the fight. I’m glad that we didn’t fight the first time because I was so emotional, but I’m just thankful to be in this position and be able to come out with a win.”
Romero talked his way into the fight for months, getting under the skin of Davis by disrespecting him every time a camera was in his face. Davis stayed relatively quiet in the lead up to the fight allowing Romero to become the heel and an unexpected promotional star.
"I didn't even throw that hard."@Gervontaa 😬 💪 | #DavisRomero pic.twitter.com/IA7SH1sfqB
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 29, 2022
Rolly’s Last Stand
He proclaimed throughout fight week that he would knock Davis out in the first round. When the first round was over, Davis took pleasure at that failure, saying something in his face to that effect before they went to their respective corners.
Tank was patient, only getting frustrated by Rolly’s unconventional style and the elbows that came with it when they were up close and personal.
“He was strong for sure, but it was a couple of shots that I was getting warmed up, and he caught me and I was like, ‘I can’t sit there with him just yet.’ I know when to take it to my opponents and when to chill out. It was somebody in the crowd, they was telling me to press forward, but I was like not yet.”
Time to put your 👊 where your mouth is 🗣️@SignUp4KOs heads to the ring for our main event.
Order #DavisRomero: https://t.co/uM8jC9IEA2 pic.twitter.com/Mmoa0pwJoM
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) May 29, 2022
The Left-Handed Assassin
Davis’ patience paid off as he placed a well-timed shot that he claims he “didn’t even throw that hard,” but Romero just “ran right into it.” Davis also compared the knockout to Manny Pacquiao’s fateful knockout at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez.
Romero left the ring while Tank celebrated viscerally by jumping on the ring turnbuckles. He did not want to do an in-ring interview, and the New York State Athletic Commission had to make sure he was OK and took him back to the locker room.
Now Tank, a free agent, has to decide what direction he wants to go in his boxing career. With everyone at 135 pounds and 140 pounds wanting to fight him, he is in a position now to call the shots of a career highlighted by his crushing left hand.
