How to watch Gervonta Davis vs Héctor Luis García
Photos from Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME®
This weekend's Gervonta Davis vs Héctor Luis García is set to be the first world title fight taking place in 2023.
Baltimore boxer Tank Davis will return to fight in D.C. for the first time since 2016, as he headlines a stacked Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view event against dangerous ex-Olympian Héctor Luis García
Everything you need to know about Tank vs Garcia in full below:
Fight Details
Date: Saturday, January 7th, 2023 (Sunday morning for UK viewers)
Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington D.C., USA
Times: 2am start UK time (9pm ET / 6pm PT)
Ringwalks: 4am main event ringwalks (Approx)
TV Channel: Showtime PPV
Live Stream: SHOWTIME.com*
Tickets: Can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com and capitalonearena.com
*Available on devices: iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, Amazon Fire TV, Select Google and Android TVs, Apple TV, Chromecast (2015+), LG Smart TV, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Xfinity Flex, Wireless 4k Contour Box (Xi6), Xbox
Social Media
The SHOWTIME BOXING COUNTDOWN show starts at 11:45pm (6:45pm ET / 3:45pm PT) on SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel and SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page topped by Vito Mielnicki Jr. vs Omar Rosales in an 8/10-round super welterweight showdown.
Background
Hector Garcia is a Rio 2016 Olympian who made his pro debut immediately after the Games in December 2016, winning via third-round stoppage, then stopped seven from his first 10 opponents before winning his maiden belt (WBA Fedelatin featherweight title) to complete his second full year in the pro ranks. His next big win came a few years later, in December 2021, when he dominated Isaac Avelar over eight rounds in his second bout in America.
Defending WBA lightweight champ “Tank” is a big puncher, his KO ratio of almost 93% is a fearsome stat for someone who has had 11 world title fights, only Isaac Cruz has made it to the final bell.
Davis is set to meet rival Ryan Garcia in early 2023, but first has another unbeaten Garcia to get through.
Tale of the Tape
Gervonta Davis
Age: 28
Fights: 27
W: 27
D: 0
L: 0
KOs: 25
KO Ratio: 92.59%
Height: 5' 5"
Reach: 67"
Stance: Southpaw
Hector Luis Garcia
Age: 31
Fights: 16
W: 16
D: 0
L: 0
KOs: 10
KO Ratio: 52.63%
Height: 5' 9"
Reach: 67"
Stance: Southpaw
Predictions
Tim Rickson, BBN Editor
"Not only is Davis an impressive, skilful fighter; he is also a tough dude, brought up in a harsh environment in crime-ridden towns in Baltimore. This is what has shaped him into the hardened, violent puncher he is today.
"Garcia is also tough, and very experienced; you don’t get to go to the Olympics for no reason. He has earned his status as an Olympian and a world champion because of his incredible skillset and attributes. Against lesser opponents, he pumps out his southpaw jab, probing, teasing, setting traps to come around the side with his swift hooks, but will that work against someone as defensively sound and skillful as Tank? I doubt it. He's also coming up to lightweight for the first time and couldn't find a tougher opponent for his 135lbs debut. It wasn't that long ago that he was campaigning at featherweight – two divisions down from here.
"Davis is also an experienced amateur, amassing a record of 205-15 after beginning boxing at the young age of five, winning several Silver and Golden Gloves trophies. He is currently ranked No.2 lightweight by The Ring Magazine, sandwiched inbetween Vasiliy Lomachenko and future foe Ryan Garcia.
"Both are experienced amateurs, southpaws, and unbeaten world champions, but I predict Davis to win by knockout between rounds 7-12."
More predictionsQuotes
GERVONTA DAVIS: “We trained hard. He’s been saying some things that have turned me up. You definitely don’t want to miss this one. We’re going to make sure this is a tough fight for him. Don’t get no popcorn during this fight. Keep your butt glued to the seat. I promise you it’s gonna be fireworks.
“This is my job. I’ve been doing it since I was seven. I know that a lot comes with it, but if I stop now, then I wouldn’t have done what I came to do.
“D.C. has always been exciting when it comes to boxing. There’s a lot of talent here that people sleep on. It’s a boxing town and I’m excited to come back and be fighting here. We used to have to get through D.C. to get to the national level in the amateurs, so I always treated this place like a second home.
“Garcia earned his spot in this fight for what he’s done this past year. He’s been in good fights and beaten good fighters. He’s not someone to sleep on. He’s a tough opponent and this is going to prepare me for a Ryan Garcia fight next.
“I just want to put on a great performance in front of a nice crowd and show everyone that I’m one of the top guys.
“There’s been a lot of talk from other fighters in the division. I’m putting them on notice with this fight and the Ryan fight. I can’t get to Ryan unless I get past Héctor. I’m showing everyone that I’m one of the elite guys.
“The last thing I want to say to Héctor is just, be ready. I’ve had a great camp and I know that Héctor’s coming. Just don’t make a lot of mistakes, because if you make too many, it might be an early night.
“This is a stacked card. Saturday night, boxing wins. From the first fight to my fight, you don’t wanna miss it.”
HÉCTOR LUIS GARCIA: “My camp could not have been better. My team is tireless, and we work so hard. Everyone is going to see the results on Saturday night.
“I feel equally comfortable at 130 and 135 pounds. I took this challenge because I always want to surpass my own limits and go after the very best. At the end of the day, it’s up to me to be at my best on Saturday night.
“The bottom line for me is that I can fight at whatever distance the fight requires me to. I can use my reach or my power. I’m going to be ready.
“I think the back and forth we’ve had is normal and in good fun. It brings more heat to the fight and it probably motivates us both more.
“Gervonta better watch out on Saturday night. Because he lit the competitive fire under me when he put his hands on me during the face off.
“The real Garcia is right here. I don’t care who he’s focused on, because I know that I’m the true challenge. Fans are going to see a thrilling fight. It’s going to be a show that everyone is gonna enjoy.”
Running Order
Main Event 4am
Gervonta Davis vs Hector Luis Garcia
12×3 WBA lightweight world title
Chief Support From 2am
Jaron Ennis vs Karen Chukhadzhian
12×3 IBF Interim World welterweight title
Rashidi Ellis vs Roiman Villa
12×3 Welterweight
Demetrius Andrade vs Demond Nicolson
10×3 Super-middleweight
SHOWTIME YT / FB 11:45pm
Vito Mielnicki Jr.vs Omar Rosales
8×3 Super-welterweight
Brandun Lee vs Diego Luque
8×3 Super-lightweight
Travon Marshall vs Shawn West
6×3 Super-welterweight
Non-Televised Card
Lamont Peterson vs Michael Ogundo
6×3 Super-lightweight
Anthony Peterson vs Raul Chirino
6×3 Super-lightweight
Keeshawn Williams vs Gustavo David Vittori
6×3 Welterweight
Jalil Hackett vs Joel Guevara
4×3 Welterweight
Kyrone Davis vs Cristian Fabian Rios
8×3 Super-middleweight
Mia Ellis vs Karen Dulin
4×2 Lightweight