By Norm Frauenhem –
LAS VEGAS — The weigh-in ended with Gevonta Davis doing something no tank could ever do. He back-flipped. He stuck the landing. It wasn’t exactly Simone Biles.
But it was an example of his dynamic athleticism. His armored nickname is a symbol of his Abrams-like power.
Yet, it’s deceptive, almost a feint. He has power in his hands, to be sure. But it’s the power in those legs that creates openings and sets up angles for the knockout blows that really do land.
Really do stick.
Over 12 rounds, it’s hard to avoid his deadly combination of power and speed. Ryan Garcia couldn’t do it. The bet is that Frank Martin can’t either in their lightweight title fight Saturday night on an Amazon Prime card that also features David Benavidez and Olkesandr Gvozdyk in an intriguing light-heavyweight bout at the MGM’s Grand Garden Arena Saturday night.
“it’s going to be crazy out there,’’ Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) said. “I hope he’s ready.’’
Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) only looked as if he were ready only for a meal or three. He was as gaunt as a Ghost, his nickname. He looked drained Friday after an apparent fight to make weight. He did, tipping the scale at 134.4 pounds, more than a half-pound under the lightweight maximum.
Meanwhile, Davis was full of energy and all of the usual trash talk. Do a back flip? Davis looked as if he could have done two or three more and then a floor routine for a weigh-in crowd estimated to be at 4,000, most of them Tank fans.
“I’m so happy that people in this arena underestimate me,’’ Martin said of the underdog role he has been assigned for this pay-per-view card.
Meanwhile, Tank seemed to celebrate, perhaps more for what might happen after his expected victory over Martin. He came in light. He was a pound lighter than Martin and more than a pound-and-half lighter than the lightweight limit.
There’s been a lot of talk about Tank at junior-welterweight, 140. But Friday’s weigh-in set off speculation about a lightweight showdown with Vasiliy Lomachenko, perhaps in November.
It all hinges on what happens Saturday night on a pay-per-view card scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. in Vegas (8 pm ET). But one thing was apparent. Tank’s backflip says he’s ready to leap into another opportunity, perhaps one as big as a date with Lomachenko.
Before Tank and Martin stepped on to the scale, Benavidez (28-0, 24 KOs) and Gvozdyk (20-1, 16 KOs) weighed-in for a second time. They were on the official scale a few hours before weighing in again for the crowd.
Benavidez, of Phoenix, reported to the Nevada Commission Friday, mid-day, thinking that he was scheduled to officially record his weight for what would be a so-called ceremonial weigh-in later in the day. That had been the routine in his last two fights in Nevada.
This time, however, the Nevada Athletic Commission decided there would be no mock weigh-in. Apparently, Benavidez didn’t get the news. But he asked if could weigh in earlier in the day anyway. The Commission agreed. So, did Gvozdyk.
Both were at 174.2, safely under the 175-pound limit. There was little doubt that Gvozdyk, a 37-year-old ex-champion from the Ukraine, had done the work. He was cut, almost with sculpted upper body, including a six-pack that Benvidez has never had.
At 27, however, he has youth, energy and an evident mean streak.
“The Monstruo,’’ he said of his Monster nickname, “always goes for the knockout. And that’s what I’m going to do.’’
