Betting on another Gervonta Davis KO? Floyd Mayweather says foe 'ain't got no jab'

There’s a reason Gervonta “Tank” Davis is making his third consecutive appearance on a Showtime pay-per-view fight Sunday from Staples Center in Los Angeles. 

“Knockouts,” Davis told USA TODAY Sports+.

The 27-year-old Davis (25-0, 24 KOs) is riding a 17-fight knockout streak into his lightweight bout against Mexico’s Isaac Cruz (22-1-1, 15 KOs). 

Cruz, a replacement opponent for Davis following a domestic violence case against Rolando Romero, has flashed impressive power. 

GERVONTA DAVIS:  You set 'em up, he knocks 'em down

But in assessing the pedigree and potential endurance of Cruz, Davis’ promoter and former pound-for-pound king, Floyd Mayweather Jr., said he spotted a glaring flaw that could seal Cruz’s fate. 

“When we’re talking about the betting, I’m just going to say one thing about his opponent: He ain’t got no jab,” Mayweather said of Cruz. “Just something I’ll let you all know.”

The bout arrives during a cluster of compelling lightweight action. Last week, Australia’s George Kambosos withstood a knockdown from unified champion Teofimo Lopez, and prevailed by split decision to capture three world-title belts. 

This weekend, Davis’ former Mayweather Boxing Club stablemate Devin Haney defends his World Boxing Council lightweight belt against Southern California’s Joseph Diaz Jr. at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. 

Davis’ power and bond with Mayweather Jr. provides him the opportunity Sunday to stamp himself best of class in what Mayweather says is boxing’s most talented group — those fighting around 135-140 pounds. 

Of course, the best way to punctuate that status move is to win by knockout. 

Canvassing various mobile betting sites, Davis, who stands as a prohibitive -1250 favorite to defeat Cruz (+700), is listed a -400 favorite to win by knockout. 

Davis, a three-division champion and Baltimore native, returns to Southern California for the first time since 2019. His last visit was to finish former super-bantamweight champion Hugo Ruiz by first-round knockout in Carson. 

In his two most recent bouts, Davis unleashed a vicious uppercut to finish four-division champion Leo Santa Cruz in October 2020 and then moved up to 140 pounds to finish secondary WBA champion Mario Barrios by 11th-round technical knockout. 

What has he learned about the art of the knockout? 

“I make sure I pay attention to everything so I’m fully prepared,” Davis said during a Thursday news conference. “Everything plays a part. Even when we’re facing off, I’m looking at his height, his reach. When you’re in there, you find out if you’ve got a guy hurt." 

Usually it's trainer Calvin Ford and a vocal, ringside-seated Mayweather feeding him information.

"I believe in my team to the fullest," Davis said. "If all of us put our minds together, we’ll come out on top.” 

At Barstool Sportsbook, Davis is listed at +375 to knock out Cruz during the first three rounds, +275 to stop him rounds 4-6, +275 again rounds 7-9 and +500 to finish him in rounds 10-12.

By selecting a specific round for a Davis knockout, a bettor could reap a +800 payoff. 

Davis said he’s not willing to predict how the bout will play out until the opening bell. Cruz, who scored his own signature uppercut knockout by flattening veteran Diego Magdaleno on the Davis-Santa Cruz undercard, is a rare Davis foe in that he’s shorter than the 5-feet-5 ½ headliner. 

“I can’t say (what round the knockout’s coming) because that’s overlooking him,” Davis said. “It’s going to be a tough fight. I’m ready to go 12 rounds.” 

Yet, few expect this bout to go the distance. It’s a +350 longshot. 

“They’re like two little Mike Tysons,” Cruz's manager, Sean Gibbons, said. "Gervonta has said it: They’re going to meet in the middle and someone’s going to break. The one thing you do know is there’ll be a knockout. Bet the under, baby.” 

Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions said the Kambosos upset of Lopez serves as a fresh reminder to Davis to not let his guard down against the son of a fighter who once defeated Pipino Cuevas. 

“We are not taking him for granted. This is (Cruz’s) Super Bowl moment,” Ellerbe said..  

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