Tank’s Toughest Fight : Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz Full Fight Highlights

When Isaac Cruz stepped in on just over a month’s notice to face Gervonta “Tank“ Davis, many fans and media members anticipated a much tougher challenge for Davis compared to his originally planned bout with Rolando Romero. This expectation proved accurate as Cruz pushed Davis to his limits for 12 rounds at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, where Davis narrowly secured a unanimous decision win. Throughout the fight, Davis landed many of his signature power shots, taking advantage of his rare height advantage. Despite his heavy hooks and uppercuts connecting, Cruz never appeared hurt, possibly due to Davis suffering a hand injury midway through the fight. “I hurt my left hand probably in the sixth round, but I had to keep using it,“ Davis said after the fight. “I need to get it checked out. It’s shaking, but that’s part of the sport.“ From the opening bell, Cruz fought aggressively, constantly moving forward to close the distance and disrupt Davis’s comfort. Although Davis is typically a slow starter, he adjusted to Cruz’s style by the third round, employing uppercuts and movement to keep Cruz at bay. As the fight progressed, Cruz’s resilience and Davis’s hand injury (or perhaps both) became evident. Cruz began to shift the momentum, closing the gap on the scorecards as both fighters continued to land clean, powerful shots. Davis managed to do just enough in key rounds to secure the victory, including a crucial win in the 12th round, which likely saved him from a draw. The official scorecards read 116-112, 115-113, and 115-113. This victory keeps Davis in a strong position in the lightweight division. With George Kambosos Jr.’s upset win over Teofimo Lopez on Nov. 27 to claim three of the four recognized lightweight world championships, and Devin Haney defending his WBC title against Joseph Diaz Jr. on Saturday, several big fights could be on the horizon. Dismissing the idea of a rematch with Cruz with a firm “hell no,“ Davis was asked if he’d stay at lightweight or move back up to super lightweight for his next fight. “I’m open to the best opportunities,“ Davis said. “All those guys are easy work. I’m the top dog.“ Cruz became only the second man to take Davis to the scorecards in his professional career, ending Davis’s streak of 16 consecutive stoppage wins. While Cruz called for a rematch, claiming he deserved the win, Davis acknowledged Cruz’s impressive performance. “He’s a definite warrior,“ Davis said. “Even though he didn’t get the win, a star was born tonight.“