Gervonta Davis, the Baltimore-born big puncher who draws large audiences, has caught the eye of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao for a potential cross-generational super-fight.
'Tank' Davis recently commanded attention with his fight against Ryan Garcia in 2023. The bout pulled in more than 1.2 million pay-per-view buys and generated a $22.8 million gate at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Davis' popularity has made him a prime target for high-profile matchups.
Pacquiao, the 46-year-old Filipino fighting legend, will first face Mario Barrios in July 2023 for the WBC Welterweight Championship. The bout gives Pacquiao a chance to break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion.
Sean Gibbons, Pacquiao's promoter, shared their initial plans with the media.
"It took a roundabout way, but we got here. We would have liked Conor Benn and would have liked Gervonta Davis, but Manny Pacquiao had one thing in mind."
Gibbons went on to reveal Pacquiao's ultimate goal after the Barrios fight.
"When he beats Mario Barrios, line them up. His dream fight is Gervonta Davis. He loves that fight. He tried to get that fight for a couple of years. Gervonta kept talking about how he didn't want to fight him at 145. Then he goes and gets smoked by Lamont Roach. So Manny Pacquiao can get this belt, and it's going to be a wonderful ride out."
Davis has his own plans in motion. He's set to announce a rematch with Lamont Roach Jr following their controversial draw. There's also talk of an exhibition bout with Jake Paul in the works.
Some boxing insiders wonder if Davis prioritizes financial gains over cementing his legacy as a top pound-for-pound fighter. This potential matchup with Pacquiao highlights the ongoing balance in boxing between pursuing legacy-defining fights and chasing lucrative opportunities.
As the boxing world waits to see how these plans unfold, fans can look forward to Pacquiao's upcoming fight in July and Davis' next move in the ring.
