Avila Perspective, Chap. 235: Las Vegas Aftermath

LAS VEGAS-Las Vegas always looks different after a mega fight, like the day after a hurricane hits town.

Gervonta “Tank” Davis left Ryan Garcia and the casino capital’s coffers filled with buckets of cash and anxious for both to return following the fighters’ ability to draw thousands to Las Vegas.

Fight town re-emerged again in the desert city which has grown immensely from its early days in the 1950s when boxing first established roots there. The coronavirus pandemic had slowed boxing fans from traveling to Las Vegas for a few years but last Saturday’s spectacle reversed the trend.

Boxing is back in Las Vegas.

Tank Davis’ win over Garcia reminded me of a 90s prizefight between Oscar De La Hoya and Pernell Whitaker. Though “Sweetpea” never packed the power of Davis, skill-wise they are very similar.

In that fight on April 12, 1997, Whitaker was able to knock down De La Hoya with a punch and trip him at the same time with his lead right foot. The knockdown was counted, but De La Hoya was able to out-busy the conservative Whitaker and win a controversial decision at Thomas and Mack Center. Fights broke out between the fans.

Last Saturday, Davis was able to defeat Garcia with a perfectly placed body shot to the liver. Casual fans and writers believe Garcia quit. But if you have ever been hit with a perfect body shot, as I have, you never forget the feeling. I still have nightmares of a body shot I received 50 years ago during sparring. Compared to concussions, a good body shot is 100 times more painful.

Anyway, my point is Davis deserves full credit for patience in waiting for the moment and looking for that opening. Garcia has exceptional speed and power and all through the fight he was looking for that opening too. But Davis and his team prepared him perfectly and like an Oscar Award winning actor he performed his lines flawlessly.

The art of boxing was in full display and that is why it is called the sweet science.

Their match-up reminded me also of Floyd Mayweather’s fight against Zab Judah in April 2006. During the press conference held in downtown Beverly Hills, I encountered Mayweather walking in and asked how anyone could beat the super quick Judah.

His response: “Timing beats speed.”

Nothing was ever truer than that. Mayweather proved it over and over and Davis showed it against Garcia last weekend. It was also a learning moment for Garcia who has an abundance of talent and youth on his side. One loss does not define a career.

Davis and Garcia provided the ingredients for a mega fight that did not disappoint.

NYC

DiBella Entertainment showcased another boxing event in Manhattan and this time with a pair of Asian fighters.

Mongolia’s Tsendbaatar Erdenebat (6-0, 3 KOs) defeated Mexico’s Edy Valencia (20-10-6, 7 KOs) by decision to pick up the NABF super featherweight title after eight rounds.

In a female fight, Japan’s Miyo Yoshida (16-3) won by majority decision over Indeya Smith (6-7-2) in a super flyweight bout after eight rounds. It was Yoshida’s first fight in the USA. She is a former super flyweight world titlist now signed with DiBella Entertainment and is living in New York.

Yoshida has her goals set at reclaiming another world title. Currently, the WBO super flyweight titlist also hails from Japan and her name is Miyuki Hiruta. The new champion is currently in Los Angeles sparring with Ramla Ali and other top fighters.

Asia has always had many champions that have largely gone unrecognized. Only now they are beginning to be discovered by the rest of the world.

Texas

Golden Boy Promotions lost a main event but quickly inserted Mexico’s always ready William Zepeda in the main event.

Zepeda (27-0, 23 KOs) faces Panama’s Jaime Arboleda (19-2, 14 KOs) in a lightweight regional title fight on Saturday April 29, at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas. DAZN will stream the Golden Boy Promotions boxing card at 5 pm Pacific Time.

“I dedicate this fight to Vergil Ortiz Jr.; I hope and wish him a speedy recovery,” said Zepeda who replaced Ortiz when he suffered a re-occurrence of a malady that affects his strength and stamina. “I hope to see him in the ring soon.”

Also on the card will be Diego De La Hoya (24-1, 11 KOs) in a regional featherweight title match against Victor Morales Jr. (17-0-1, 8 KOs).

“This fight against Morales is a great way for me to jump back into the rankings and continue my path to become a world champion,” said Diego De La Hoya.

Morales, a stablemate of De La Hoya, is equally excited about the match.

“I need to get my name out there and we needed a dance partner like Diego,” said Morales. “We are going in there to make a statement.”

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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