It is without challenge the biggest and best lightweight fight in the world. A matchup between WBA champ Gervonta “Tank” Davis and WBC counterpart Shakur Stevenson pits two undefeated pound-for-pound entrants against each other, and both men are in their prime.
Tank has never been in better form. In his two most recent outings, the Baltimore native has worn down Ryan Garcia and Frank Martin with smart pressure before closing the show via spectacular knockout. Both of those opponents had entered the ring with unbeaten records.
WATCH: Shakur Stevenson vs. Artem Harutyunyan, exclusively on ESPN+
Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) was not at his vintage best against Edwin De Los Santos last time out, but he is one of the finest technicians in the sport today. An Olympic silver medallist, the Newark-born southpaw has skills to burn, as evidenced in dominant triumphs over Jamel Herring and Oscar Valdez.
The Sporting News takes a deep dive into a potential matchup between Tank and Stevenson.
Have Tank Davis and Shakur Stevenson ever sparred?
Yes, Davis and Stevenson sparred when they were at very different stages of their careers.
In late 2016, Tank was preparing for his first world title bout against then-IBF super featherweight champ Jose Pedraza. At the same time, Stevenson was fresh off his silver medal at the Rio Olympics and looking to turn professional.
Tank brought Davis into camp for sparring, and both men got on very well. However, as the years passed and the bad blood began to simmer, Tank became hostile when asked about sparring sessions with both Devin Haney and Stevenson.
“They’ve all been in the ring with me and I cracked both of them,” Davis said while appearing on The Rize Podcast in 2022.
Needless to say, Stevenson remembers things differently and accused Tank of fabricating events.
Can Shakur Stevenson beat Tank Davis?
This all-southpaw battle is a very difficult fight to call.
Defensively, Stevenson is incredible. He’s never been caught by a savage punch and it's a rarity for him to lose rounds. His hand and foot speed are matched only by his ring IQ.
Davis has always been a slow starter, but that's by design. From the moment the opening bell rings, Tank is gathering information and planning traps for later in the fight. Even when an opponent is winning against him, they’re never safe.
Right now, my pick would be Tank simply because 12 rounds is a long time to avoid a bomb. That prediction could change dozens of times between now and the fight taking place.
Will Tank Davis and Shakur Stevenson fight?
As of this moment, Tank fights under the Premier Boxing Champions umbrella while Stevenson is aligned with Top Rank. These companies are not in the habit of working with each other.
On Saturday, July 6, Stevenson defends his WBC crown against Artem Harutyunyan in Newark. This will be his last fight under his current contract with Top Rank, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be extending with the company.
Top Rank has done a solid job with Stevenson, fast-tracking him to pound-for-pound stardom as a three-weight world champion. However, the reality is that, at least for now, a fight between Tank and Stevenson could rest on whatever decision the latter makes.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis record, stats, bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: November 7, 1994
- Height: 5-5 ½
- Reach: 67 ½ inches
- Total fights: 30
- Record: 30-0 with 28 wins via knockout
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Shakur Stevenson record, stats, bio
- Nationality: American
- Born: June 28, 1997
- Height: 5-8
- Reach: 68 inches
- Total fights: 21
- Record: 21-0 with 10 wins via knockout