Just as boxing fans celebrated promoters, broadcasters, and fighters coming together to make a competitive contest, it appears that the Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis negotiations aren’t as far ahead as once thought.
The bout – which was reportedly set for Las Vegas on April 15 at a catchweight of 136lb – has been talked up by both fighters in the wake of Davis coming through his latest test, Hector Luis Garcia. The path, at least in boxing terms, is now clear for the two young, undefeated superstars to lock horns.
In the post-fight press conference, ‘Tank’ said that all that had to happen was for Garcia’s side to sign the contract. Garcia recently said in an interview it would ‘100%’ go ahead and they were currently working on an undercard for the event.
Enter Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia’s promoter, who has now claimed that he hasn’t received a contract and will be ‘moving on’ if it’s not on his desk by Monday.
I have no contract, deadline for me is Monday or I’m moving on. #DavisGarcia
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) January 15, 2023
Fans only have to look at the back end of 2022 and the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua negotiations to know that public deadlines don’t play so well.
Whilst it shouldn’t be put past De La Hoya that this could be mind games or an attempt at bargaining power, if he is truly about to move on then it paints a bleak picture for the sport.
‘Tank’ versus Garcia would be an incredible fight and that, of course, is the main reason for the excitement surrounding it – but it also had the opportunity to be a watershed moment for other boxers to start pushing for bigger fights, regardless of promotional ties or broadcast disputes.
More updates are expected soon – especially if the former multiple weight world champion’s deadline is real.