Evander Holyfield has picked Gervonta Davis as the most exciting fighter outside the heavyweight division. The boxing legend praised Davis for his knockout power and skillful boxing.
Holyfield, known as "The Real Deal," made history as the first boxer to become undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight. He retired in 2011 at the age of 62, after facing notable opponents like Dwight Muhammad Qawi, Riddick Bowe, and Mike Tyson.
In a recent interview, Holyfield compared Davis to another boxing great:
"The little guy that's always knocking somebody out, left-handed guy… Gervonta. He reminds me of Pernell Whitaker but he's got more power than Pernell Whitaker. He'll put you out. These type of fighters like this, they take all the argument and everything out. When you're a big puncher, you ain't gonna just hit him, one-two, you gonna knock him out. Don't nobody complain when somebody gets knocked out. You can't blame the referee. It's just good sometimes to see little guys with big punches."
Holyfield didn't stop at praising Davis' power. He also highlighted the young fighter's technical skills:
"He's skillful [too.] He's got a good jab and all stuff like this. And if he hits you with two or three shots, and every one of them shots he's swinging hard. He crushes them."
At 29 years old, "Tank" Davis has built an impressive record. Out of his 30 fights, he's won 28 by knockout, with 16 of those coming in the first three rounds. His fighting style often sees him drop early rounds before striking, but he rarely loses control of a fight.
Davis showed his power once again in June with an emphatic stoppage of Frank Martin. He was set to defend his WBA Lightweight World Title against Lamont Roach Jr in December, but that date is no longer possible. A new date hasn't been announced yet.
Boxing fans are eager to see Davis face Shakur Stevenson in what would be a classic clash of styles. The key question: Can Davis produce a knockout against one of the hardest fighters to hit in the sport?
Holyfield's praise for Davis comes at a time when another boxer, Oleksandr Usyk, has joined him in the history books. Usyk recently became only the second fighter after Holyfield to be undisputed champion at both cruiserweight and heavyweight.
