In what was an inevitable conclusion to a well-marketed mismatch, Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, ended things in explosive fashion with a well-placed left hand off the ropes that had Rolando Romero falling face first into the ropes. As he wobbled onto his feet and was unsteady at the instructions of referee, David Fields, the fight was waved off in the sixth round.
Perhaps it went longer than expected, but Davis was never going to lose this fight.
But credit to the unorthodox Romero, who used his advantages in size and length to trouble Davis in the early rounds. While Romero is a technically raw fighter, he has a set of heavy hands that certainly gained the respect of a 'Tank' that showed he has a reverse gear in the early stages.
Amanda Westcott for Showtime Sports
“He was strong for sure but there were a couple shots that I was getting warmed up with and he caught me and I was like, ‘I can’t sit with him just yet,’” said Davis. “I know when to take it to my opponents and when to chill out. There was someone in the crowd and they were telling me to press forward and I was like, not yet. I got to loosen him up a little more.”
But eventually it was going to be Romero's fundamental deficiencies would be his downfall. As he over-extended with a reaching right hand, and with his head coming out over his feet as he attempted to throw a left, it was boxing's version of a hanging curveball.
Gervonta Davis Knocks Out Rolly Romero With Devastating Left Hand | SHOWTIME PPV
Davis, who's clever boxing acumen is often overshadowed by his prodigious power, capitalized by striking Romero with a counter left hand that essentially ended the contest.
“The crazy thing is that I didn’t even throw it that hard,” said Davis. “He just ran into it. 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.”
Amanda Westcott for Showtime Sports
Tank did what he was supposed to in dispatching an inferior foe. Romero played his role by serving as colorful character, who helped promote the event -- which drew just under 19,000 at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn -- and was ultimately cannon fodder.
Now, the questions center around the future of Davis. Much was said about who would be his promoter moving forward. But it has to be stated: Mayweather Promotions, has actually done a good job by him. He has become a legitimate draw, who makes a good living and has been well-matched. Now, that may not jibe with the wants and needs of the fans, but oftentimes what are the goals of promoters and fighters, aren't in alignment with those of the customers.
Boxing first and foremost, is a business.
It says here that it will be business as usual for Davis in the future.
PPV
OK, is it time to just go with two main supporting bouts on pay-per-view events, instead of the traditional three?
I ask this because the last few pay-per-view cards haven't exactly been the most compelling, recently. It's certainly a far cry from the days of the loaded Don King undercards which were filled with solid championship bouts from top-to-bottom.
But the reality is that with the main event performers receiving such exorbitant purses, promoters simply wont invest any real money into the undercard.
Amanda Westcott, Showtime Sports
So with that said, how bout just condensing the available money for two higher quality bouts, instead of three largely mediocre ones? In other worlds, less is more.
Also, with that, make sure that as one fights ends that the boxers for the next bout are in the ring by 10 minutes. Across the board, prolonged interludes extend these broadcasts needlessly. Davis-Romero started right around 12:30 am, ET. If Erislandy Lara hadn't finished off Spike O'Sullivan the way he did, those two may not have entered the ring till close to 1 am.
Lets get this show moving along.
FINAL FLURRIES
In addition to Lara stopping O'Sullivan in eight on the Tank-Rolly undercard, welterweight hopeful, Jesus Ramos out-pointed Luke Santamaria over 10 rounds, while Eduardo Ramirez won a hard-fought 10 round decision over Luis Melendez....There may, or may not have been gunshots just outside the Barclay Center after the fights, but it certainly caused a commotion from those who were nearby....Big weekend upcoming in boxing with George Kambosos-Devin Haney(ESPN) and Stephen Fulton-Danny Roman(Showtime)....Really enjoyed the first season of 'Yellowjackets'(Showtime)....Hearing good things about the Top Gun reboot, I may have to go and see that... I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com....
