jack baer
Staff writer
Gervonta Davis is still undefeated, still WBA lightweight world champion and still one of the sport's premier knockout artists.
"Tank" defeated undefeated title challenger Frank "The Ghost" Martin with a vicious knockout in the eighth round to improve his record to 30-0 with 28 KOs. It was Davis' first fight in 14 months and he ended up looking like he never left.
Davis set up the climactic blow with an uppercut that stunned Martin enough to leave him defenseless for a left hook that put him flat on the mat.
TANK DAVIS KO pic.twitter.com/d4dmG0YyK5
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 16, 2024
The fight began with Martin in control, even after Davis walked out to the "Ghostbusters" theme song as a nod to Martin's nickname. "Ghost" consistently won exchanges for the first three rounds while keeping his distance from his famously powerful opponent.
It was a little more even between the fourth and fifth rounds before the flow of the fight turned violently to Davis' favor in the seventh. Martin might have been ahead on the scorecards, but Davis' power punches were finding home enough that disaster was inevitable.
"I knew that he was going to tire down," Davis said after the fight. "That's what I was doing. Stand there, be a target so he could tire himself out, and once he tired himself out, I started picking him apart."
Instead of fatigue, Martin painted his loss of momentum as an issue of becoming too comfortable. He spent much of the later rounds backing away from Davis and finding himself on the ropes.
"I felt like in the beginning I was in control, then got a little too comfortable," Martin said. "I got comfortable chilling on the ropes, trying to find that bigger shot. It wasn't presenting itself, I stopped doing my movement. Once I stopped doing my movement, he was able to land more shots."
Gervonta Davis credits jail time for growth
The fight was Davis' first appearance in the ring since April 22, 2023, when he defeated rising star Ryan Garcia for the biggest win of his career. It cemented him as one of the biggest stars in boxing, but Davis found himself in a jail cell not long after. He pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges stemming from a 2020 hit-an-run accident in which four people, one of them pregnant, were injured and was sentenced to 90 days of house arrest, but was taken into custody after violating the terms of that sentence.
Davis was surprisingly positive about his 44 days in jail, which didn't stop him from being a strong favorite entering the fight.
"It made me a better person by patience and things like that," Davis said. "Stuff happens in life where you've got to go through it and not try to get it around it. It made me a better person, it made me a better father, it made me a better everything. I want to be a better athlete as I continue to build and be great in my career."
Davis declined to specifically to call out a future opponent in the wake of the win, but acknowledged that three fighters the interviewer mentioned — Vasiliy Lomachenko, Shakur Stevenson and Isaac Cruz — were "on my radar."
Here's how it all played out with live updates and analysis from Yahoo Sports:
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER72 updates
Yahoo Sports Staff
Another vicious Tank KO. Sheesh. pic.twitter.com/jF9JlsYJki
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
Clase de KO @Gervontaa 🥊 pic.twitter.com/WS2SyB7jd0
— Salvador Rodriguez (@ChavaESPN) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
Left Hand from HELL!!#TankMartin pic.twitter.com/QmTx7Y0fNy
— TakeruCigarra (@TakeruCigarra) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
TANK DAVIS PUT FRANK MARTIN TO SLEEP pic.twitter.com/kXRBuQpygc
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) June 16, 2024
See Also5 Eagles thoughts: A.J. Brown's Hall of Fame trajectory, the quarterback market and moreGervonta Davis vs Frank Martin fight results: Highlights from Tank Davis' knockout winHow to Watch Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs. Frank Martin Fight Online TonightHow to watch the Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin fight tonight: Full card, where to stream and moreYahoo Sports Staff
Wow, what a KO from Gervonta! He is a killer! #TankMartin pic.twitter.com/3qGK2Sth9v
— TakeruCigarra (@TakeruCigarra) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
Tank dancing on the ropes before Frank was even counted out. Man just got the hands of God. Baptizing folks in the ring.
— 🎄Black Big Lebowski🎄 (@LaJethroJenkins) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
RESULT: Gervonta Davis def. Frank Martin by KO at 1:29 of R8
Tank retains his title and stays undefeated with another knockout added to his résumé.
Yahoo Sports Staff
True story, I was at the weigh in with @DanCanobbio and he told me that Tank told him he was gonna get the stoppage in the 8th round.
— Raheem Palmer (@iamrahstradamus) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
That was a mental and physical break down
— ShowtimeShawn Porter (@ShowtimeShawnP) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
That's why Davis is a special fighter. No matter what's happening during a fight, he can end it with one shot. Lot folks hate that he's in the P4P rankings, but he is a special talent.
— Douglass Fischer (@dougiefischer) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
Davis just wore Martin down over 8 rounds and then just completely flattened him. Incredible KO from the champion.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Martin can't help but get trapped in the corner and Tank capitalizes! He lands a huge shot to turn off Martin's light. Fight is over!
Yahoo Sports Staff
Tank clearly won round 7 despite eating that shot off balance at the end!
Yahoo Sports Staff
Martin lands a huge counter left that backs Davis up!
Yahoo Sports Staff
Tank has turned it on in the 7th. Combos are landing at will.
Yahoo Sports Staff
#FrankMartin with a POWERFUL right hand. #TankMartin LIVE on https://t.co/op5b8eTm95 pic.twitter.com/IBYYQz690b
— PPV.COM (@ppv_com) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
Tank has no fear of what’s coming back at him vs Frank Martin.
— Marcos Villegas (@heyitsmarcosv) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
5 in the bag for Frank. BUT HE NEEDS TO START PUSHING TANK BACK!! He’s out landing Tank still. But Tank is getting closer. I hear a sense of urgency from Tanks corner…. As expected
— ShowtimeShawn Porter (@ShowtimeShawnP) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
Tank showing signs of having taken some SHOTS
TUNE IN NOW https://t.co/fUt1hkeLW9 #PBConPrimeVideo #TankMartin pic.twitter.com/50Poz84vfs
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) June 16, 2024
Yahoo Sports Staff
Martin staying sharp and mostly out of the way of Tank's shots, but Tank is steadily honing in on the shots he wants to land.
Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin full card results, highlights
Lightweight: Gervonta Davis def. Frank Martin by KO (R8, 1:29):
The left hook gets it done - #Tank KOs #Martin in the 8th round.#TankMartin on https://t.co/op5b8eTm95 pic.twitter.com/iXgH68OjZ8
— PPV.COM (@ppv_com) June 16, 2024
Light heavyweight: David Benavidez def. Oleksandr Gvozdyk by unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 118-109)
Super lightweight: Alberto Puello def. Gary Antuanne Russell by split decision (109-118, 115-112, 114-113)
Middleweight:Carlos Adames def. Terrell Gausha by unanimous decision (119-109, 118-110, 118-110)