Hall of famer Bernard Hopkins has given his two cents on Ryan Garcia’s defeat to Gervonta Davis last month, and believes a pre existing rib injury was a contributing factor in Garcia suffering a seventh round stoppage loss.
There has been speculation that the catchweight limit of 136lbs, coupled with a 10lbs rehydration clause, may have depleted the 25 year old ahead of the pay per view clash at the T-Mobile Arena on April 22nd.
Hopkins, however, explained on the DAZN Boxing Show that, for his money, that the body shot from Davis that brought the contest to a close may have landed right on the rib that was ‘already bruised and breached’.
“I don’t think it affected him to the point where he couldn’t perform the way he did. I don’t think it affected him where he looked like a skeleton on the scales.”
“I thought physically Ryan looked great, his skin still had moisture on it when I watched him.”
“I just think that he got caught with a shot that he didn’t see on the side of the liver or rib that was already bruised and breached.”
Hopkins is a part of Garcia’s promotional team with Golden Boy, and found himself involved in some handbags with ‘Tank’ at the weigh in for the blockbuster affair.
Following the defeat, ‘King Ry’ confirmed he would be moving back up to super lightweight, where he had been campaigning in the twelve months prior to the fight with Davis.
It remains unclear who the Californian will target at 140lbs, with the likes of Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor considered the marquee names in the division currently, and Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson expected to move up from lightweight in the not too distant future.