Remember the Ring Magazine Awards event in London last month—the gala that seemingly kicked off the rivalry between Gervonta Davis and Riyadh Season figurehead His Excellency Turki Alalshikh? This rivalry almost shut down every possibility of the Baltimore native ever fighting under the banner of the Riyadh Season. This in turn jeopardized the possibility of many great fights as most of the ranked contenders had by now joined hands with the Saudi Arabian sports entity.
Well, recently, in a conversation with Mike Coppinger, the Saudi Royal claimed that he is ready to settle his differences with Tank in order to make “The biggest fight in the world”—a dream clash between Gervonta Davis and WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. “I hope one day seeing Shakur against Tank,” declared the GEA chairman hopefully.
Despite His Excellency sharing an estranged relationship with the Baltimorean, Coppinger reminded him that he used to share a tense relationship with unified super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez as well before signing Canelo to a four-fight deal. The insider claimed that similar things could happen with Tank as well. To his surprise, HE Alalshikh agreed and added, “I don’t take anything as a personal. I am professional. I don’t need to like you to talk with you,” revealing that he doesn’t let personal grudges affect his professional ventures.
A stunning array of champions and legends at #TheRingAwards pic.twitter.com/2ETRa4z86K
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) January 12, 2025
The GEA chairman even hailed the athleticism and talent of the 30-year-old. “He is a great fighter, of course. No doubt about this.” However, he also claimed that the lack of great fights under his resume makes him a bit unconvincing as a boxing great already. That is why, “we need to see him(Davis) in big fights more and more,” to ensure that he does make it into the annals of boxing.
So, it is clear that His Excellency is ready to settle all the disputes for business. But what does Gervonta Davis think? Let’s hear it from the man himself.
Gervonta Davis wanted to get paid for the effort
In a conversation with Lil Yachty on the recent episode of A Safe Place Podcast, the WBA lightweight champion revealed that his sour relationship with the Saudis started way before the Ring Magazine gala. “They came at me wrong the first time, which they said I will fight Devin (Haney),” revealed Davis.
Reportedly, Tank was supposed to face Devin Haney last year. The negotiations were going smoothly until the Baltimorean insisted that he receive at least two Ferraris from HE Turki Alalshikh to even consider the fight. Fans were stunned by the sudden change in demand and were left wondering. Well, we know the answer now.
“When he was saying like Devin was his guy. So I’m like if Devin is your guy y’all gotta pay me now extra. Cuz I already know what I am coming over there. Do you feel me? I got to get the knockout. If not, y’all gonna give it to him. So that’s what made me like, ‘Oh yeah, I see what’s going on.’ So now give me two or three Ferraris. If not, ain’t no point of me going over there for. Ya’ll got the money to do it,” confessed Gervonta Davis, revealing his side of the story.
According to him, the contract signing immediately determined the match’s result. Given their relationship with Devin Haney, Tank feared that he would lose the fight if it ever went to the scorecards. So, as a result, he would have to get a knockout win, making the fight very precarious for him. Therefore, for him, the reward should match the effort, hence the demand. After all, “Everybody got paid to go over there. Even like the whole um, what they just had? Yeah, the Ring Award sh*t. But it’s cool, pay me extra,” added Gervonta Davis.
The recent admission from both parties clearly indicates the door remains open. A potential collaboration is certainly possible if His Excellency fulfills Gervonta Davis’ demand. And we have seen that if he really wants to see something, he can pay any ludicrous amount to see it happen.
Do you think we will ever see Gervonta Davis fighting under the Riyadh Season banner? Let us know your thoughts down below.
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