Boxing
Gervonta Davis vs. Yuriorkis Gamboa lightweight title fight set for Dec. 28
Gervonta Davis began 2019 as a world champion in one weight class and looks to end 2019 as a world champion in another weight division.
It was announced late Friday afternoon that the former two-time super featherweight titleholder would make his debut at lightweight on Saturday, Dec. 28, when he battles former two-division world champion Yuriorkis Gamboa for the vacant WBA lightweight championship from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
The fight got made based on Davis and Gamboa competing on the same card at the end of July in Davis' hometown of Baltimore. In front of a soldout crowd of around 15,000 people at Royal Farms Arena, Davis (22-0, 21 KOs) scored a violent second-round TKO of Ricardo Nunez. After the fight, the 24-year-old relinquished the belt to make the trek up to 135 pounds. "Tank" respects what Gamoba brings to the table as he looks to make an emphatic statement to close out the year.
“Some of the greatest boxers in the Hall of Fame have won titles in multiple weight divisions, and I’m no different," Davis said. "I expect as much success at 135 pounds as I had at 130 pounds. Yuriorkis Gamboa is a respected name in boxing and has achieved high levels of success in both the Olympics and as a professional. I expect him to bring out the best in me, and l will be ready for it."
Right before Davis quickly dispatched Nunez, Gamboa (30-2, 18 KOs) fought in the co-feature by knocking out Roman Martinez in the second round. The 37-year-old has found a new lease on life since getting KO'd by pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford in June 2014 by winning seven of his last eight. The 2004 Olympic gold medalist and former unified featherweight titlist presents the most significant test in Davis' short and stellar career.
“I am blessed to have this amazing opportunity to become world champion once again,” Gamboa said. “I have been hoping that this opportunity would be against Gervonta Davis as well. I love and embrace the role of (the) underdog that I have in this match because it will be the ultimate motivator. For the first time in my career, I will be involved in a high profile bout in which I am not coming in at a disadvantage. Gervonta is an excellent fighter, but he has yet to face anyone like me. All the sacrifices I have made in my career and my life — leaving Cuba and coming to this country to find a better life for my family — will finally pay off on December 28.”
