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Mike Coppinger, ESPN
Gervonta Davis and Frank Martin have struck a deal to fight for Davis’ WBA lightweight title in late spring/early summer, sources tell ESPN.
Davis, one of boxing’s top stars, will compete for the first time since he scored a seventh-round KO victory over Ryan Garcia in April’s super fight.
The matchup will headline a PBC on Prime Video pay-per-view.
Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) is ESPN’s No. 2 lightweight and No. 8 pound-for-pound boxer. The power-punching southpaw held the WBA’s secondary version of its lightweight title, but Davis was elevated after undisputed champion Devin Haney vacated his four titles to move up to 140 pounds.
The 29-year-old Baltimore native was sidelined following his April victory over Garcia — a fight that generated over 1 million PPV buys and $22 million-plus in gate receipts — because of legal issues.
Davis pled guilty in May to four counts stemming from a November 2020 crash that injured four people, including a pregnant woman. He was sentenced to 90 days of home detention at the home of his trainer, Calvin Ford.
A judge ruled on June 1 that Davis violated the terms of his house arrest after he moved to a luxury hotel and then a new home, without permission. He was released from a Baltimore jail in July after 44 days at a detention center. Davis was also sentenced to three years’ probation and 200 hours of community service.
With those legal issues behind him, Davis will resume his career and return to his standing as one of boxing’s top attractions with a title defense against Martin.
Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) is ESPN’s No. 7 lightweight. The 29-year-old, who trains in Dallas under the guidance of former trainer of the year Derrick James, is an athletic southpaw with power, just like Davis. But unlike Davis, Martin has yet to prove his skills on the top level.
Martin last fought in July, when he scored a tightly contested unanimous-decision win over Artem Harutyunyan. Martin scored a knockdown in the 12th round to pull out the victory. The Indianapolis native also owns wins over Michel Rivera and Jackson Marinez.
Martin was in line to fight Shakur Stevenson last fall in his first title opportunity, but he turned down the career-high seven-figure payday. Now, Martin will receive his title shot after all in a much bigger fight.
Davis is boxing’s top American-born attraction. The Floyd Mayweather protégé has fought before sizable crowds in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Davis is a former titleholder at 130 pounds who also owns wins over Mario Barrios (at 140 pounds), Leo Santa Cruz (2020 KO of the Year) and Rolly Romero. Davis also scored a ninth-round TKO victory over Hector Luis Garcia last January.
Source: www.espn.com