Former cruiserweight and heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, has given high praise to one of boxing’s current stars, comparing him to defensive mastermind, Pernell Whitaker, but with more knockout power.
Whitaker began his professional career with high hopes following an astonishing amateur career that culminated with a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. ‘Sweet Pea’ more than lived up to the expectations, becoming a four-weight champion and earning a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
In an interview with ES NEWS, Holyfield has accredited Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis as being of similar skill to the 1989 Fighter of the Year, but says that his power-punching makes him an even fiercer fighter.
“Tank is another guy where you can tell that he works. He has this plan as to how he is going to go out there, but there is always going to be somebody eventually that can take them [power] shots. I’ve never really seen anyone who can outwork him either, he has still got fast hands and bombs too.
He is like Pernell Whittaker, but he has bombs, he has harder shots than Pernell, so he gets people out of there. If he hits you three or four times then all of a sudden, he can take you out of there.”
Davis’ skills as a finisher have seen him record twenty-seven stoppages across a twenty-nine fight unbeaten career, compared to Whitaker who knocked out seventeen opponents in his forty victories.
For now, ‘Tank’s power seems to be too much for almost anyone that dares to face him in the ring, but his other skills may be tested if he is to defeat slick rivals such as Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney.