By: Sean Crose
He was 23 years previous on the time, with a document of 25 wins and no losses. He was a former Olympian, gifted, good wanting, and in possession of that uncommon trait referred to as the “it issue.” But “Sugar” Ray Leonard had but to actually show himself within the skilled rankings. With the intention to do this, Leonard must defeat the 38-0-1 Wilfred Benitez, who lower than 4 years earlier had turn into the youngest world titlist in historical past by defeating Antonio Cervantes at simply seventeen years of age.
Suffice to say, Leonard-Benítez was fairly the battle. These have been two real tacticians matching wits within the ring – till Leonard confirmed the world the battle ending energy punching he had in his arsenal by stopping Benavidez within the last seconds of the fifteenth and last spherical. Having subsequently lifted the WBC welterweight title off Benítez’ shoulders, Leonard went on to have probably the most adorned careers in your entire historical past of the game of boxing. Final Saturday night time in Las Vegas, over forty years after Leonard had entered the realm of greatness, Gervonta “Tank” Davis did near the identical factor when he knocked out Frank Martin in brutal trend within the eighth spherical of their WBA light-weight title bout.
But, spectacular as he was, Davis hadn’t entered the realm Leonard had many years earlier when he had bested the spectacular Benavidez. Why? As a result of Martin, good as he’s, merely isn’t on the extent Benavidez was. Certainly, none of Davis’ opponents have been. And till he’s in a position to finest somebody who is mostly considered his equal within the ring, Davis will stay on simply this aspect of greatness. One suspects, nonetheless, like Davis is about to make his transfer into the stratosphere – offered he beats one of many prime names in his normal weight realm
In the mean time, Vasyl Lomachenko seems to be the person Davis will battle to earn the rank of legit nice. Lomachenko could also be a bit over the hill, however the man has already earned himself at spot within the Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame as soon as he retires. What’s extra, the ageing wolf nonetheless has some critical chunk. In different phrases, a battle with Lomachenko if no assured win for Davis. Neither is a battle with the terribly expert Shakur Stevenson. A possible match between these two males at the moment stands as a query in want of a solution. Hopefully that reply will come sooner fairly than later, as each fighters are in line to affix the greats – and will properly obtain greatness by battling and defeating the opposite.
Merely put, the time is now for the seemingly good Davis to attempt to show he’s nearly as good as he seems to be.
