To be a bonafide star athlete, your talents must be undeniable and your presence must loom large.
Last night in Brooklyn, Gervonta “Tank” Davis proved his stardom to those who foolishly questioned it.
In a fight loaded with bad blood, verbal venom and even a physical altercation at the weigh in, Tank took a right hook from Rolando Romero in the sixth and responded with a devastating left hook that ended Romero’s hope of winning the WBA Lightweight title.
After the shot heard ’round Brooklyn, the sold-out Barclays Arena exploded as Romero lay stunned in the corner.
As the count edged closer to 10, Tank slowly approached his opponent, like a hunter stalks his prey.
Romero got to his feet, but his face told the story. His body said yes, but his mind had already shut down for the night.
When Romero failed to follow his instructions, the referee waved his hands and fans from Brooklyn down 95 to Baltimore exploded once more.
Tank Davis (27-0, 25 KOs), the five-time world champion and pride of Baltimore, defended his WBA Lightweight title.
Even more impressively, he did it in Brooklyn, where he won his first world title in January of 2017 with a stunning KO of Jose Pedraza.
After the fight, Tank showed his love for New York, which launched Tank’s stardom at that 2017 fight.
“We did it again in New York City baby,” said Davis. “Thank you New York City. I won my first belt here and it was great to come back to Brooklyn and do it again.”
Stars must shine bright on the biggest stage and there is no bigger stage or brighter lights than New York City.
Athletes who earn respect in New York are certified.
Even if you’re hated by New York fans, you can earn the respect of those very fans and still earn your cred. Just ask Reggie Miller.
Tank first secured the love and support of New York in 2017, but the City officially granted him his star a year later when he faced Jesus Cuellar back in Brooklyn in April of 2018.
I can attest to that because I was there, three rows from the ring.
I knew Tank was good and had begun his ascent. What I didn’t know was just how much my city had embraced him.
In a card that featured Jermall Charlo and Adrien Broner, Tank stole the show.
When he was announced, the Barclays exploded with admiration. It left me stunned.
Not because he didn’t deserve it, because he did.
No. I was stunned because I hadn’t realized that the young fighter from Baltimore had amassed such a strong fanbase in NY that quickly.
But then again, NY loves hard-working, tough, powerful yet soft spoken fighters.
Look at Mike Tyson and Mark Breland. Brooklyn born and raised and still loved to this very day because of what they represent.
Tank could very well be from Brooklyn because he is akin to a young Mike Tyson.
Fearless, always willing to fight, a force in the ring with devastating power and, as he showed last night, a fighter who has captured the love and support of the crowd.
And like Tyson, his post-fight commentary is always entertaining even when it’s not meant to be.
“The shot that I threw, it wasn’t really hard. It wasn’t my hardest, like, punch I could have threw,” said Davis regarding the left that he obliterated Romero with. “It was just right on the money. I caught him coming in, you know what I mean? I knew he was going to come in eventually because he wanted to hit me so hard. I just got out of the way at the same time.”
“The crazy thing is that I didn’t even throw it that hard,” continued Davis. “He just ran into it. Something like when Manny Pacquiao got caught. I didn’t even throw it that hard and he’s the one who ran into it, when he was talking that it was going to be me.”
But it wasn’t him.
Instead, it was Romero who was left standing and stunned like Chris Tucker in “Rush Hour” after Tank’s haymaker counter left hook ended his night.
Last night at 2:49 in the sixth round in Brooklyn, Tank retained his title and made history.
According to the release, Saturday’s event was the highest grossing and most attended (18,970) boxing event in Barclays Center history.
But most importantly Gervonta “Tank” Davis proved he is what boxing fans knew he was.
A star.
