Gervonta Davis recently announced that he will be facing Frank Martin in the summer on June 22nd at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. This fight will see Tank defending his WBA ‘regular’ lightweight crown against Martin. While Martin is considered a step up from the usual opponents Davis has faced in his career, it is arguable that he is not the most challenging opponent Davis could have chosen.
Martin, with a record of 18-0 and 12 knockouts, is seen as a competent fighter in the lightweight division. However, many believe that there are at least six better options for Davis to face. Critics argue that Martin is more like the sixth or seventh best lightweight fighter, rather than the second best as some casual fans may believe. Martin’s flaws in his game could be exploited by higher-caliber opponents, indicating that Davis might not be facing the toughest challenge in the division.
It is speculated that Davis’ management chose Martin as his opponent due to the belief that he is a beatable opponent. This cautious approach is in contrast to the way other top fighters like Vasily Lomachenko and Shakur Stevenson have been matched up with challenging opponents in the past. The decision to stage the fight in Houston, far from Davis’ hometown of Baltimore, seems like an interesting choice. However, with Martin’s trainer residing in Dallas, the location might not pose a significant disadvantage for either fighter.
Despite the criticisms of the matchup, fans are still excited about the upcoming fight between Davis and Martin. The bout is expected to be action-packed, with fireworks in the ring. Martin’s recent performance against Artem Harutyunyan, where he had to rally to a victory, showed that he is not invincible. While he has had impressive wins in the past, his struggles against Harutyunyan indicate that he may have difficulties when faced with a skilled opponent.
The fight between Gervonta Davis and Frank Martin presents an interesting matchup in the lightweight division. While Martin is considered a decent fighter, there are doubts about whether he poses a significant threat to Davis. The decision to pit these two fighters against each other raises questions about Davis’ choice of opponents and the competitiveness of the matchup. Only time will tell if this fight will live up to the expectations and provide the fireworks fans are hoping for.