Davis Triumphs with Eighth-Round Knockout of Frank Martin
After the longest layoff of his professional career, Gervonta “Tank” Davis made a triumphant return to the ring, reminding the boxing world of his undefeated prowess. Davis secured an eighth-round knockout against Frank Martin on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Fight Recap
Davis (30-0, 28 knockouts) retained his WBA lightweight title with a powerful left uppercut followed by a straight left, sending Martin into the ropes and onto the canvas. This victory marks Davis's fourth consecutive knockout win. Despite conceding five of the first six rounds to gather data on his opponent, Davis ended the bout in spectacular fashion.
Post-Fight Reflections
In a post-fight interview, Davis explained his strategy: “A couple rounds, I didn’t feel like I warmed up completely like I wanted to, but I did warm up as the fight was going on. I knew that he was going to tire down, so I was just standing there, being a target for him so he could tire himself out. And once he tired himself out, I started picking him apart.”
Turning the Tide
Entering the seventh round, Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) held a 37-31 edge in power punches according to CompuBox statistics. However, Davis turned the tide by landing 19 power punches to Martin's 11 in that round. Davis then delivered a series of decisive blows in the eighth round, ultimately securing his victory.
Davis's Layoff and Legal Issues
Davis had not fought since a seventh-round knockout of Ryan Garcia in April 2023, also in Las Vegas. Part of his time away included 44 days in a detention center for violating house arrest terms related to an automobile accident that injured four people.
Experience and Focus
Despite his time away, Davis demonstrated his seasoned experience: “I’ve been around for a long time. I’ve been training since I was 7 years old and competing since I was 8. It’s like second nature. It’s about staying focused, making sure my mind is on a goal, and that’s always to come out on top.”
Round-by-Round Breakdown
Round 1: Data Gathering
As is typical in his career, Davis spent the first round gathering data on his opponent, ending at an 11-3 deficit in punches to Martin.
Round 2: Initial Exchanges
Davis took his time sizing up Martin, landing several clean shots to the body.
Round 3: Martin’s Momentum
Martin continued to score with cleaner shots, outlanding Davis nearly 2 to 1.
Round 4: Body Work
Davis began working the body more and closed with a flourish, sending Martin to the ropes.
Round 5: Corner Battle
Davis landed one clean punch, forcing Martin to retreat to the corners.
Round 6: Applying Pressure
Davis assembled his best round, applying pressure with a straight left hand and connecting with several jabs.
Round 7: Dominance
Davis continued to be the aggressor, stalking Martin and neutralizing his counterpunching.
Round 8: The Knockout
Davis landed a straight left that sent Martin to the canvas for good, retaining his WBA lightweight belt.
