Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs “King” Ryan Garcia press conference quotes
“I touch that jaw and I’m telling you, you’re going to sleep. I’ll probably break your jaw.” – Davis
“Everything is coming to a halt for you on Saturday night. You’re gonna learn the hard way.” – Garcia
Photos from Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Undefeated rivals and boxing superstars Gervonta “Tank” Davis and “King” Ryan Garcia went face-to-face for the first time during fight week at Thursday’s final press conference before they meet this Saturday, April 22 in a SHOWTIME PPV production from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
The press conference also featured fighters competing on the pay-per-view undercard including WBA Super Middleweight Champion David Morrell Jr. and Olympic® Bronze Medalist Yamaguchi Falcao, who meet in the co-main event, super middleweight sluggers Gabriel Rosado and Bektemir Melikuziev, who battle in a 10-round rematch, and hard-hitting 19-year-old middleweight Elijah Garcia and Mexico’s Kevin Salgado, who duel in the pay-per-view telecast opener at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
The event is promoted by GTD Promotions, TGB Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions.
Here is what the press conference participants had to say Thursday from KÀ Theatre at MGM Grand:
GERVONTA DAVIS
“All he talks about is that one punch. I only need one too. I touch that jaw and I’m telling you, you’re going to sleep. I’ll probably break your jaw.
“We’re here. Enough with the talking. I’m ready to get down and dirty. I’m from Baltimore city and you’ll see how we turn it come Saturday. See y’all then.
“He’s gonna feel me for sure. I am what I say I am. I’m that guy. I didn’t get all the way here for no reason. I put the work in and I got those guys out of there. He’s gonna see it come Saturday night for sure.
“Don’t forget I’m the most accurate puncher out there. Make sure you’ve been practicing on putting your hands up.
“He’s getting his ass whooped. It’s gonna be an exciting fight. I’m excited to be here. I don’t know about him, but I’m coming with some stuff for sure.
“He doesn’t have the fundamentals at all. If Joe Goossen is that great of a trainer, he’s gotta fix his fundamentals. All he’s got is that weak hook. That’s all he’s relying on.
“He’s delusional if he thinks he’s knocking me out. That’s it.”
RYAN GARCIA
“Everything is catching up to you. Everything is coming to a halt for you on Saturday night. You’re gonna learn the hard way.
“What an honor to be here. This is a dream come true. I’m seeing my face on the big screens at MGM and this is what I’ve dreamed of since I was a little boy. I’m very happy and excited.
“I don’t have much to say really, I’m just staying focused and preparing. I know there’s a big task at hand, but I’m gonna come out victorious.
“He’s gonna find out exactly why I’m here. You don’t get to this position without having something special. Anybody can see that. We’ll just have to wait and see when I’m in there. He’ll see it when I’m in there.
“This man has never punished anyone in his life. He’s always losing in these fights. Get that out of your mind. You’re gonna get punished. You got the lowest punch output in boxing.
“This is the biggest moment in sports right now. It means a lot. The magnitude of this fight is huge. Everything is already on the line. I’m just ready to go as deep as I have to. This moment is everything to me. I’ve envisioned this for years and it’s finally here.
“I just need one shot. That left hook. I feel like I’m gonna break his jaw with that hook. I just see him lying on the floor.
“I’m ready to do what I do. I’m gonna end him, I promise that. It’s over.”
CALVIN FORD, Davis’ Trainer
“Here we go again with another one. I don’t do too much talking. We do it in the ring. Be prepared Saturday night, because it’s on. In the words of my coaching partner Kenny Ellis, we’re going to put some knuckles on somebody.
“Ryan says he’s the king, but this is vicious right here. I ain’t never seen a king hold his kingdom down when you have a vicious crew come through. We are coming through. We are vicious. We aren’t just boxing. We’re doing this. Come Saturday night, be prepared. Stop playin’ with my youngin’.
“I don’t train for knockouts. I train for punishment. I want you to feel it. I’m sending the message to everyone, through you. You will see.”
JOE GOOSSEN, Garcia’s Trainer
“I’m not going to have a war of words with anybody because the real war is going to be Saturday night between two great fighters. This is one of the most exceptional matches put together in a long time. The interest in this fight has been unbelievable.
“Ryan Garcia is one of the most uniquely talented fighters I’ve ever been involved with in a half of a century. People know me and I don’t mess around.
“I’ve never seen anybody train as hard, or focus as much as Ryan has. He has a deep faith. He has a deep faith in himself as well. I just can’t say enough great things about him. He’s going to bring something very special to the ring Saturday, I can guarantee that.”
DAVID MORRELL JR.
“This is so exciting. I’m thrilled about the opportunity and I want to thank my whole team. This means a lot to me.
“I want a big name in my next fight, so this is the perfect fight and the perfect stage for me to prepare to face the best in the division.
“100% I’m trying to send a message to David Benavidez. I want him to know that I’m ready. I’ve told everyone that I’m ready for all the best fighters at 168-pounds.
“He’s got his opinion, but it’s not as easy as he says. The amateurs are different than the pros. Look at my last fight, everyone was talking about me losing, but I go in there and get knockouts.
“I’m really thankful for my support from all the Cuban fans out there. I’m ready to knock Falcao out for all of you. He’s going down in five or six rounds.
“I’m ready for what’s in front of me. I have everything I need. I’m focused and I feel great.”
YAMAGUCHI FALCAO
“I’m all about taking on the best and biggest challenges. I love this sport and I believe in myself. I know exactly what I want to do on Saturday night.
“People should know that I’m an Olympic medalist, that I’m very talented and that I’m here to make history and shock the world.
“I want to leave my imprint on the world right here in Las Vegas and let everyone know that I’ve arrived.
“I stand by my words that I’m gonna knock him out. I love Cuban boxing, but Saturday is gonna be my night. I’m a problem.”
GABRIEL ROSADO
“The rematch made sense being that I was already in camp getting ready for a big fight. This opportunity presented itself and I thought it made sense on this huge card.
“I took it personally that he thinks the knockout in our first fight was a fluke. I just want to prove him wrong.
“It’s going to be the same outcome this time. We’re going in there locked in. I had a great training camp and I feel amazing.
“The fans know that they’re gonna get my best. I’m a Philadelphia warrior. It’s not just about winning, it’s about how I win. It’s hard to top that first knockout, but I’m coming to give a great performance and I can’t wait.
“It’s been a long road for me, but I’m enjoying it and I’m having fun. You gotta have fun doing this. I just want to keep proving that I’m improving as a fighter and that I’m worthy of this stage. Come Saturday night, we’re gonna shine again.”
BEKTEMIR MELIKUZIEV
“I’m very thankful to be on this stage with this big opportunity on a card like this. This is the fight I’ve wanted and the fight I’ve been asking for.
“This is boxing. A mistake was made and a lesson was learned in our first fight. There won’t be any mistake made by me this time.
“I’m happy to have this opportunity. I have a great fighter in front of me. I can promise you that no matter how long this fight goes, it’s gonna be exciting and action packed.
“He can think whatever he wants. I have no problem with it. I can just promise that it’s gonna be a great fight and be action packed.
“Whatever happened in the first fight already happened, I’m going to do my talking inside of the ring.”
ELIJAH GARCIA
“The fans are going to see an explosive fight. Salgado is a great opponent, but I’m gonna push the pace and someone is gonna get knocked out. It’s gonna be fought on the inside and we’ll see what happens.
“Phoenix has always had good boxers and great talent and we’re just starting to take the big fights and become champions. I just want to become the next big name from there.
“My goal is to be champion when I’m 21 years old. If it comes sooner, then I’m ready. Right now I’m just taking it one fight at a time and building myself. I want to be a mandatory by the end of the year.
“Now I feel like I wanna knock him out. I expect to put him out before six and put on a great show for the fans.”
KEVIN SALGADO
“He can say whatever he wants up here right now. The only one that’s getting knocked out on Saturday is Elijah Garcia.
“I don’t care how young he is or how ambitious he is, I’m going to go in that ring, get the victory and be on my way.
“One thing is to talk outside the ring, he seems to like to do that. I’m going to talk inside the ring and everyone will see what I’m capable of.”
TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions
“It’s happening folks. Make no mistake about it, this is a super fight. It’s one of the biggest that can be made in boxing and the best fight of 2023.
“It’s not often in today’s game that we see two young fighters, both undefeated, both in their prime, step into the ring together.
“We always hear about styles make fights and in this case, it’s never been more true. This fight will be an instant classic and an all-out war. This is going to be like Marvin Hagler vs. Thomas Hearns, and in ‘Tank’ Davis, we have Hagler.”
LEONARD ELLERBE, Boxing Promoter
“The talk is done, it’s go time this Saturday. The biggest fight in boxing.
“We believe in Tank 1000%. So when it comes to what Oscar says, he has no room to talk about anything. We carry ourself like the A-side because that’s what we are.
“It’s going to be Tank Davis by KO, like I’ve been saying, and it might be early.”
OSCAR DE LA HOYA, Chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions
“I truly believe that the winner of this fight will be the new king of the sport. As someone who spent most of his early life in the ring, I know firsthand what it takes to compete at the highest level. This is the highest level. I look at Ryan and I know he’s ready. I look at Ryan’s team and they know he’s ready.
“When I look at ‘Tank’s’ team’s action throughout the whole promotion, I am left to wonder, ‘Do they really think this guy is ready?’ Catchweights and rehydration clauses. Late afternoon weigh ins. All these small petty requirements point to a team looking to protect their fighter, and why would they protect their fighter, unless they don’t think he’s ready for this moment? I really believe that ‘Tank’s’ team is worried he’s going to lose. When you’re a young fighter, nothing feels worse than your team not believing in you.”
STEPHEN ESPINOZA, President, SHOWTIME Sports
“We’re thrilled to bring you this fight in collaboration with DAZN PPV and we’re proud to once again be delivering the strongest schedule in the sport.
“SHOWTIME has delivered 14 marquee events in just the first six months of the year, and this is our ninth live boxing event in the last 11 weeks. It’s one of the hottest runs in the history of SHOWTIME BOXING®.
“This Saturday we have one of the hottest fights of the year. Two fighters with different personalities, different fan bases, and very different styles in the ring. This is a battle of the two most popular fighters in the U.S. Both are huge draws. Both are coming off very impressive performances; ‘Tank’ Davis winning by TKO over Hector Luis Garcia, and Ryan Garcia last fought in July against former title holder Javier Fortuna.
“’Tank’ is a five-time champion in three different weight classes. He has sold out venues in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Baltimore, Brooklyn, and Washington, D.C. Three of his last six wins have been one-punch KOs and 18 of his last 19 opponents have been stopped. The combined record of his last 13 opponents is 138 wins and 12 losses.
“Ryan Garcia probably has the fastest hands in boxing. Everyone talks about Ryan’s social media following, but that’s not really the important thing. Just because he has a big social media following doesn’t mean he’s not one of the most talented boxers in the sport because he clearly is, and everyone talks about his speed. But that’s not the only thing. Ryan Garcia has knockouts in six of his last seven fights, including over Fortuna this past July.”
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