There was only one opponent named Garcia that Gervonta Davis and his trainer, Calvin Ford, were willing to discuss Monday.

The powerful southpaw’s showdown with Ryan Garcia would be one of the biggest fights in boxing in 2023, but only if the favored Davis gets past unbeaten WBA super featherweight champion Hector Luis Garcia on January 7. Davis acknowledged during a press conference in Washington, D.C. that he realizes he’ll face a dangerous opponent next month, an emerging, motivated underdog who wants nothing more than to pull off another upset in their 12-round, 135-pound title fight.

“We not sleeping on this guy,” Davis stated during the press conference. “I know we got two fights lined up, but this the main one that we focused on cuz, you know what I mean, it been a lot of talks in the boxing world and I ain’t really tryin’ to do no more talking. I’m ready to, you know what I mean, go through everybody, you know what I mean, that’s in my way so, who are in that division, that 135 division. But, you know what I mean, this Garcia is the first person that we gotta focus on, so we gotta get through him first.”

Baltimore’s Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) will defend his WBA world lightweight title against Garcia (16-0, 10 KOs, 3 NC). The Dominican Republic’s Garcia won his WBA 130-pound championship when he out-pointed Venezuelan veteran Roger Gutierrez (26-4-1, 20 KOs) by unanimous decision August 20 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

Davis, 28, and Garcia, 31, will headline a four-fight Showtime Pay-Per-View event four weeks from Saturday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

Ryan Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) is expected to participate in an interim bout January 21 against an opponent to be determined. Davis and his rival have agreed to finally fight, at a catch weight of 136 pounds, if they win their upcoming matches, yet Davis understands that the biggest fight of his career can’t materialize unless he fends off Hector Luis Garcia.

“I was always them guys that stayed focused and know that everybody in front of you is a threat,” Davis said. “You know what I mean? So, we know that [Hector Luis] Garcia coming. You know what I mean? Not to say I watch him. I watch him a lot. You know what I mean? I watch all my opponents. You know what I mean? Even down to training, I know what they doing day in, day out.”

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.