Gervonta Davis wants to make sure he doesn’t end up dealing with a trap fight when he faces Hector Luis Garcia on Saturday at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. on Showtime pay-per-view.
Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) has a date arranged with Ryan Garcia later this year for a 136-pound catchweight bout, and he very well knows Hector Luis Garcia (16-0, 10 KOs) wants to spoil his master plans.
“I ain't gonna lie. He looks a little hungry. A lot of people overlook him, but I ain't trying to overlook him. He looks like he's ready. And it could be a life changer for him. You know what I mean? He wants to take my spot. So I'm definitely not looking past him. I'm in a real fight. January 7 is going to be a crazy night,” Davis said on an episode of the Showtime series “All Access.”
Garcia, a 2016 Olympian for the Dominican Republic, has certainly gotten accustomed to playing the role of spoiler.
The 31-year-old had a breakout and banner campaign in 2022 in which he was on the shortlist for fighter of the year after upsetting then-undefeated prospect Chris Colbert in February and beating Roger Gutiérrez for the 130-pound WBA title in August.
Garcia will be stepping up in weight and fighting for the first time at 135 pounds when he faces Davis.
Outside of the ring, Davis has been dealing with his share of distractions.
On Dec. 28, Davis was arrested on domestic violence charges and released from jail after posting a $1,000 bond. A judge issued a no-contact order. On Dec. 30. the mother of Davis' daughter released a statement recanting the claims.
The 28-year-old Davis discussed his development as a person and boxer during the “All Access” episode.
“I'm made for this. I'm here for a reason, for sure. The only person that can break me is myself.
“I'm not a kid anymore. I'm taking my priorities seriously. These things matter.
“We're happy but deep down inside there's more to accomplish. That's how I feel as a fighter. Our job is never done. I want it all.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.