You might win some early battles against Gervonta Davis, but you will eventually lose the war. Frank Martin was the latest opponent to jump out to a lead by winning some early rounds, and eventually get run over by a 'Tank'.
On Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) stopped Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) with a highlight reel knockout that almost seemed inevitable. While Martin had success in the opening stanza's by boxing and moving, he got stuck languishing on the ropes (and even worse, the corners) for long stretches.
Martin, is an athletic southpaw, but too many mistake boxers like this for being 'slick', when in reality, they are just quick. Fast fighters aren't all slick, and slow ones can be. It's really about skills and craft inside the pocket. Being 'slick' is having the ability to be evasive and slippery, while being able to counter-punch. Yes, he won the first three rounds on the official scorecards, but he never really troubled Davis all that much. 
Esther Lin/PBC
"He put up a good four to five rounds,” said Davis. “I was finding my range. (Martin) had a decent jab and was moving a lot and I just had to break him down as the fight went on.”
It's clear, if you can't hurt or dissuade Davis, he will simply march forward, figure you out, lay some traps, and then lower the boom. Which is precisely what happened in round eight. He cornered Martin, dazed him with an uppercut, and then flattened with him a left hand in the eighth round. 
Esther Lin/PBC
“I knew he wasn’t getting back up because of the way he fell, and I knew he was gonna tire himself out, that was the whole gameplan,” said Davis.
Tank vs. Martin HIGHLIGHTS: June 15, 2024 | PBC on Prime Video
Tank vs. Martin HIGHLIGHTS: June 15, 2024 | PBC on Prime Video
Quite simply, Davis is one of the most vicious finishers in the sport. And yeah, you can question his overall resume, but when he fights, people care, and they are entertained. You can argue about his pound-for-pound status, but there's no denying the buzz he creates.
BENAVIDEZ
In the night's co-main, David Benavidez won a clear cut 12-round decision over former belt-holder, Oleksandr Gvozdyk, by the scores of 116-112, 117-110 and 119-109. While he was pretty solid in capturing the WBC interim light heavyweight title, Benavidez played to mixed reviews.
Early on, he looked particularly fast and quick off the trigger. He utilized his trademark combinations to swarm Gvozdyk, and he was actually backing up the natural 175-pounder. But there was a noticeable lag in the second half of the contest as he fatigued, and didn't have his trademark finishing kick. Gvozdyk's best moments came late in this fight.
"I went up in weight, won every single round and dominated a former world champion and an Olympian as well,” said Benavidez.
Esther Lin/PBC
It wasn't a bad debut at light heavyweight, but it left you wondering if he was better off staying at super middleweight.
But this has to be stated, there is this perception that 'the (half) Mexican Monster' was this prodigious puncher at 168. While he notched a good deal of knockouts, Benavidez is really a volume puncher, who stops foes through attrition. Benavidez didn't score all that many one-punch stoppages. Also, if you look at his ledger, you see more than one blown-up middleweight listed on his Boxrec.
That's what he is, a high volume, pressure fighter, who may no longer have the physical advantages that he once had at 168.
UPSET SPECIAL
It never fails, at least once a year, you'll see Ismael Salas leading a fighter to an upset victory. Which is what happened as Alberto Puello defeated the highly touted, Gary Antuanne Russell, by the scores of 114-113, 115-112 and 118-109 (inexplicably for Russell).
Puello vs. Russell HIGHLIGHTS: June 15, 2024 | PBC on Prime Video
Puello vs. Russell HIGHLIGHTS: June 15, 2024 | PBC on Prime Video
The tall and lanky Puello (23-0, 10 KOs) consistently counter-punched Russell (17-1, 17 KOs), and never wilted under the oncoming pressure. Many had forecast great things for Russell, but on this night he looked like another fighter suffering from ring rust. His last outing came last August. So yeah, say it with me again: activity matters. 
Esther Lin/PBC
As for Salas, this is another upset he has engineered. A lot of trainers win fights as the favorite, not many do as the underdog. Nobody does it as often as this diminutive gentleman from Cuba.
FINAL FLURRIES
Carlos Adames put in a workmanlike effort in defending his WBC middleweight title against Terrell Gausha over 12 rounds...I was thoroughly impressed by Liam Paro's effort in taking the IBF junior welterweight belt from Subriel Matias in Puerto Rico.....Will Naoya Inoue fulfill his WBA mandatory against Murodjon Akhmadaliev in September?....David Avanesyan is the new opponent for Jaron Ennis on July 13 in Philadelphia....I can be reached at k9kim@yahoo.com.
