Boxing superstar Gervonta "Tank" Davis could be in for one of his biggest tests when he defends his WBA lightweight title against fellow southpaw Frank Martin at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on June 15. The 12-round bout, plus undercard action, will air on Prime Video.
Davis (29-0, 29 KOs) is a pound-for-pound star and one of the sport’s biggest attractions. The 29-year-old from Baltimore is coming off a seventh-round knockout of Ryan Garcia last April, a victory which took his reputation to even greater heights.
WATCH: Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin on Prime Video
Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) will be having his first fight at the elite level, but he's a confident and skilled operator. Also 29 years old, the Detroit-born challenger is in his prime and proved his fighting heart in a hard-fought 12-round unanimous decision win over Artem Harutyunyan in July.
“This win will mean everything,” Martin told The Sporting News recently. “It’s life-changing for me and my family. I ain’t getting the opportunity just to get it; there’s a purpose behind it. I’m not one of those fighters who’s just happy to be in the moment. I’m ready to capitalize. I’m ready to get it done. I’m happy to be here, but I’m also ready to win. There’s a difference.”
The Sporting News showcases the odds and a final prediction for this lightweight world title fight:
Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin betting odds
Per BetMGM, Davis is the -700 favorite while Martin is the +450 underdog.
Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin trends
- Davis via KO/ TKO/ Tech. Dec/ DQ: -190
- Davis via decision: +250
- Martin via KO/TKO/Tech. Dec/ DQ: +1200
- Martin via decision: +800
- Draw: +2500
MORE: SN's Top-12 best pound-for-pound boxers
Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin prediction, best bets
Martin is one of the best opponents that Tank has shared a ring with. The challenger is quick, skilled and defensively switched on, so expect a very tough fight here.
I wouldn't be surprised if Martin gets the better of Davis, only to be ripped off on the cards. Tank is an amazing puncher and his skills are very underrated, but this opponent is capable of giving him a real test.
My concern is the business model in Las Vegas. Tank isn’t supposed to lose this fight and that could make all the difference when the numbers come in. It sounds cynical, but the challenger might need to win by a country mile to get a fair shake on the cards.
With that being the case, I’ll go for Tank winning via split decision. If he’s on, then he might deserve the nod, but if the champion falls way behind and the go-home punch eludes him, then he might need the officials to bail him out.
Sporting News prediction: Davis SD 12 (Per BetMGM: +250)
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