By Dan Ambrose: Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz will be meeting in a rematch next. This is the fight that ‘Pitbull’ Cruz (25-2-1, 17 KOs) has been campaigning for since his narrow twelve round decision loss to Tank Davis in December 2021.
ESPN’s Mark Kriegel is reporting the news of the Davis vs. Cruz rematch happening next, which takes Pitbull out of the running to fight for the soon-to-be-vacant WBC lightweight title, which champion Devin Haney has abandoned by his decision to move up to 140 to challenge Regis Prograis.
Gervonta’s trainer Calvin Ford, is eager for him to face Pitbull Cruz in a rematch after his initial target opponent, Devin Haney, chose to flee the division to go up to 140 after his controversial victory over Vasily Lomachenko last May.
Ford obviously feels that Cruz is someone that fans want to see Tank Davis fight. Of course, Ford may view Pitbull Cruz as an easy mark, someone who isn’t a threat to beating Tank.
“Isaac Cruz, he apparently has a date with Tank Davis,” said Mark Kriegel to ESPN.
It would be better for Tank Davis’ popularity if his promoters at Mayweather Promotions forgot about running it back with Isaac Cruz and focused on putting the Baltimore native with one of these fighters:
– Shakur Stevenson
– Frank Martin
– Keyshawn Davis
– William Zepeda
– Raymond Muratalla
– Edwin De Los Santos
– Floyd Schofield
– Abdullah Mason
Gervonta should be fighting those guys, but they would put some wear & tear on the Baltimore native. None of them would be easy outs like Tank’s recent fight against social media star Ryan Garcia.
There’s not a high demand from boxing hardcore fans to see a rematch between Gervonta and Cruz, but the success of this fight will come down to the casual fans. They’re the ones who will be purchasing the Tank vs. Cruz 2 rematch on Showtime PPV.
At this point in Tank Davis’ career, all of his fights are on pay-per-view, and it doesn’t matter who he fights. Tank’ss last five fights have been on PPV against the fighters:
- Ryan Garcia
- Hector Garcia
- Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero
- Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz
- Leo Santa Cruz
‘Pitbull’ Cruz, 25, is ranked #3 WBC and in position to face #2 Shakur Stevenson for the vacant 135-lb title, but with the Mexican warrior now facing WBA ‘regular’ lightweight champion Tank Davis, that takes him out of the running for that fight.
Kriegel says Shakur Stevenson will fight #4 WBC Frank Martin next for the belt.
