Picture this: It’s April 2023—Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis are about to square off for their highly anticipated fight. Both fighters were undefeated, but Davis’ reputation made him the betting favorite going into the fight. And it didn’t take him long to prove why that was the case. He dropped Garcia in rounds two and seven to do what most people had predicted.
Win the fight via 7th-round knockout. In fact, the Baltimore native forced Garcia to take a knee and quit under Davis’ pressure and power that he is known for. Some reports even claimed that Garcia had broken his ribs due to Davis’ power punches. Since then, nobody has done anything similar to the Victorville native or has even come close to beating Garcia.
This may lead many to believe that Davis was the hardest puncher Garcia had ever faced. However, according to Ryan Garcia himself, that honor goes to someone else entirely. It’s worth noting that besides Davis, the only opponent to drop Garcia was the United Kingdom’s Luke Campbell. But even he isn’t the hardest puncher Garcia has faced, according to him.
NY: Gervonta Davis v Ryan Garcia – press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz Ryan Garcia attends the Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia boxing match press conference at the Palladium Times Square in New York, NY on March 8, 2023. New York Palladium Times Square NY USA NOxUSExINxGERMANY PUBLICATIONxINxALGxARGxAUTxBRNxBRAxCANxCHIxCHNxCOLxECUxEGYxGRExINDxIRIxIRQxISRxJORxKUWxLIBxLBAxMLTxMEXxMARxOMAxPERxQATxKSAxSUIxSYRxTUNxTURxUAExUKxVENxYEMxONLY Copyright: xEfrenxLandaosx Editorial use only
So, this begs the question, who is the hardest puncher Garcia has faced? While appearing in an interview with Ring Champs with Ak & Barak a few days ago, Garcia claimed Oscar Duarte was the hardest puncher he ever faced. “Duarte,” he said when asked directly by the host. When pressed why, Garcia added, “Well, he is the only one who ever cut my eye. When he hit me with an uppercut in the clinch…”
It’s worth noting that Duarte was the first fight Garcia appeared in after his loss to Tank. Regardless, Garcia’s decision to snub Davis is straightforward—Davis has done the same to him in the past.
Gervonta Davis snubs Ryan Garcia to name the hardest puncher he has ever faced
Gervonta Davis has shared the ring with some of boxing’s biggest punchers, including Ryan Garcia. However, ‘Tank’ believes Rolly Romero, not Garcia, is the hardest hitter he has ever faced. Even though Garcia lost the fight against Davis, the Victorville native’s left hook has defined his career and put many on the canvas. However, Davis doesn’t seem to think Garcia is anything special.
June 15, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: GERVONTA DAVIS 30-0-28 of Baltimore, Maryland defeats FRANK MARTIN 18-1-12 of Indianapolis, Indiana by a 8 round knockout during PBC on Prime at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas Las Vegas USA – ZUMAo117 20240615_zsp_o117_211 Copyright: xMikaelxOnax
Speaking to the media before his fight against Lamont Roach Jr., Davis said, “I ain’t going to lie, Rolly hits hard. People are sleeping on Rolly. He doesn’t have a chin, so he gets caught, but he can hit. He’s the only person I’ve felt. When he swung, it felt like there were bricks in his hands.” Garcia and Romero are obviously slated to lock horns on May 2nd, so time will tell who is the hardest puncher.
That being said, it appears Ryan Garcia has taken his pick for the hardest puncher he has ever faced despite being forced to quit against Gervonta Davis. Do you agree with Garcia?
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