By: Sean Crose
He was 23 years outdated on the time, with a report of 25 wins and no losses. He was a former Olympian, proficient, good trying, and in possession of that uncommon trait generally known as the “it factor.” Yet “Sugar” Ray Leonard had but to really show himself within the skilled rankings. In order to do this, Leonard must defeat the 38-0-1 Wilfred Benitez, who lower than 4 years earlier had turn out to be 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 combat ending energy punching he had in his arsenal by stopping Benavidez within the closing seconds of the fifteenth and closing spherical. Having subsequently lifted the WBC welterweight title off Benítez’ shoulders, Leonard went on to have one of the embellished careers in the whole historical past of the game of boxing. Last Saturday evening 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.
Yet, spectacular as he was, Davis hadn’t entered the realm Leonard had a long time earlier when he had bested the spectacular Benavidez. Why? Because Martin, good as he’s, merely isn’t on the extent Benavidez was. Indeed, none of Davis’ opponents have been. And till he’s in a position to greatest somebody who is usually considered his equal within the ring, Davis will stay on simply this facet of greatness. One suspects, nonetheless, like Davis is about to make his transfer into the stratosphere – offered he beats one of many high names in his basic weight realm
At the second, Vasyl Lomachenko seems to be the person Davis will battle to earn the rank of authentic nice. Lomachenko could also be a bit over the hill, however the man has already earned himself at spot within the International Boxing Hall of Fame as soon as he retires. What’s extra, the ageing wolf nonetheless has some severe chunk. In different phrases, a combat with Lomachenko if no assured win for Davis. Nor 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 quite than later, as each fighters are in line to hitch the greats – and will properly obtain greatness by battling and defeating the opposite.
Simply put, the time is now for the seemingly sensible Davis to attempt to show he’s nearly as good as he seems to be.
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