Gervonta Davis came close to blows at the weigh-in for his fight with Ryan Garcia, but it wasn’t his opponent he was targeting.
The two undefeated young stars take to the ring in Las Vegas this weekend in a contest that certainly needs no more hype.
Fight week has brought the stars out in Sin City, with sporting legends and celebrities as common as slot machines. That includes Bernard Hopkins – a multi-belt, two-weight world champion who is, by all accounts, one of the most successful and decorated fighters in recent memory.
Following his pro career, Hopkins joined Golden Boy Promotions as a partner alongside Oscar De La Hoya, and has been singing Garcia’s praises throughout the build-up.
During the final face off, he circled around to ‘Tank’s side and got himself involved, something the young knockout artist didn’t take kindly to. He and his coach, Calvin Ford, scolded ‘B-Hop’ for touching him and a scuffle on the stage ensued.
One more sleep. #DavisGarcia
ORDER: https://t.co/uwVCxBudCRpic.twitter.com/kFu07RjjGm
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) April 21, 2023
Davis refocused his attentions on his opponent thereafter, getting in a little shove as a final farewell before they meet inside the ropes.
His mind was still on Hopkins later, though, and he said in a since-deleted tweet that he should have ‘slapped him.’
“I should’ve slapped the s**t outta B-Hop as soon as he touched me. Why he’s on our side in the first place but if I would’ve punched I would’ve been wrong.”
It’s no surprise that tensions rose after a weight cut and just hours before the fight. Davis and, more importantly, the bigger man in Garcia now face a rehydration clause before making their ring walks at the T-Mobile Arena.