Gervonta Davis and Abner Mares fight Saturday in the Dignity Health Sports Park for the WBA (Super) super featherweight title.
Gervonta Davis enters this battle with a 20-0 record that includes 19 knockouts. This is Davis’ fifth battle as 2017, and he’s coming from an April win over Jesus Marcelo Andres Cuellar. Davis fought only once last year, but he’s coming off arguably the biggest win of his career and will defend his brand new belt for the first time. In the victory, Davis landed almost 50 percent of his energy shots and produced a third round knockout. Davis is a 24-year-old southpaw who stands 5’6″ with a 69 in. reach. Davis is simply a pitbull in the ring with exceptionally heavy hands and a pressure style that is catastrophic once he gets his down time. With knockouts in each of the last 11 fights and eight of those fights finish in the first round or sooner, it is fairly clear what to expect from Tank. Davis is a competitive fighter from Baltimore who attracts another power into the ring that it is tough for his opponent to match. Davis is also rather underrated because of his defense, as he has solid footwork and fantastic mind movement that enables him to get in and out fairly quickly. Davis is at his finest when boxing on the interior and is somebody who should continue to fly up the rankings. This is Davis’ career struggle in California.
Abner Mares enters this fight with a 31-3-1 record that includes 15 knockouts. Mares has won five of the last seven fights, and he’s coming from a June loss to Leo Santa Cruz. Mares is coming off another loss to Santa Cruz, a bout in which he did very little harm and landed a very poor percentage of his cries. Still, Mares will probably be battling for a belt for the fifth straight battle and has a opportunity to get probably the biggest win of his career. Mares is a 33-year-old Mexican who stands 5’4″, has a 66 inch reach and has an orthodox stance. Mares is a tough fighter who has been in some serious brawls over his career and he could take a punch, which certainly gives him a chance in this bout. Despite three losses, Mares has only been finished once in his profession, which came against Jhonny Gonzalez at 2013. Mares has a powerful right hand, some good hands speed and contains these flurries that can overwhelm his opponent. Mares is at his best when he is pushing the speed and will have a knack for completing a fight when he’s his opponent on the ropes. Mares is a proven winner who’ll be up to the job and will not be intimated by the glowing lights. This is Mares’ career fight in California.
This is going to be a fun fight and one that’s sure to check Davis, as Mares is battle tested, tough and has these aggressive combinations that may be tricky for a fighter seeking to land the one big punch. While Mares will have his opportunities to make this battle aggressive, Davis will be on the winning side. Tank isn’t only the larger fighter, but he’s the stronger puncher and will make Mares cover any defensive errors he makes. It’s crucial Mares is cautious of his aggressiveness, as he could walk to some power punch that puts him to sleep. We are seeing Davis became a patient boxer and not rely so much on the 1 haymaker. Mares has to pick his spots within this one and can’t rely on trading punches, as he will surely be on the losing side.
I will take Davis to win this bout by TKO / KO at the top round.
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