Staples Center, Los Angeles:
Serious legal issues took Rolando Romero out of the fight against Gervonta Davis. That set up the battle versus the gritty Mexican, Isaac Cruz. But by the final bell Tank’s speed the difference. “Pitbull” from the word go did what he always does, comes forward pushing the pace. The notoriously slow starting pupil of Floyd Mayweather was patient in making reads.
However, he did start to get pushed into firing. And the champion did get stung on occasion. Somewhere in the middle rounds not only did “Tank’s” footwork, head movement, and hand speed take over; but he also injured his left hand. Thus forcing him to use it less than he wanted. It gave another chance for Cruz to start throwing more and not really worry about Davis using a key tool in his arsenal.
But even before that, Tank couldn’t put Cruz on the canvas, as Cruz had Davis on his heels. As he peppered Tank’s body. It forced Davis to do what champions sometimes have to do. Bite down on their mouthpiece in a tough battle. Both fighters had their hooks working as well as uppercuts.
For only the second time in the 27-year old’s career he didn’t finish an opponent. The unanimous decision win; (115-113 2x, 116-112) improves him to 26-0, but it also improves the stock of Cruz in the greater public’s eyes. Whether it has anything to do with the Floyd connection, he’s starting to sell out big venues, with more of a celebrity row in attendance meaning more eyes on him.
Tank’s Speed The Difference, What Happens Next
Davis himself in giving props to Cruz post fight said, “a star is definitely born”; but when asked if it deserved a rematch he said hell no. As for what’s next, he was uncommitted about 135 or 140. When Jim Gray broached the topic of Haney or Kambosos; he said repeatedly they were the easy work.
That might push him into fights with bigger names; especially if he wanted to take a crack at some names at 147, Mayweather’s old stomping grounds. After all, that was the original game plan for his career. Isaac Cruz on the other hand, can easily walk into a fight with JoJo Diaz.
When it comes to completely unifying lightweight, the slight edge has to be in Devin Haney’s corner. Although there is the Lomachenko – Commey fight back at Madison Square Garden on Saturday that may be the final say in the Kambosos lottery.
