Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia: B/R Staff Fight Predictions

It's one of the biggest boxing matches to be booked in quite some time.

Undefeated lightweights Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia will square off Saturday night in Las Vegas, as two of boxing's brightest lights vie for personal supremacy and glory.

The 24-year-old Garcia heads into the bout with a 23-0 record, including 19 wins by way of knockout. But he'll face the toughest test of his career, taking on knockout specialist Gervonta Davis, 28, who's also undefeated (28-0, 26 knockouts).

The B/R Combat Sports team got together to provide its picks for this weekend's fight.

Disagree with our team's picks? Sound off in the comments section of the app!

Davis by Decision

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File

FILE - Gervonta Davis poses for photographs after a WBA lightweight championship boxing bout against Rolando Romero early Sunday, May 29, 2022, in New York. Gervonta Davis faces off against fellow unbeaten fighter Hector Luis Garcia on Saturday night, Jan. 7, 2023, in the WBA lightweight champion's first match since May. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

They don't happen often. Or certainly not often enough.

So perhaps the best thing about the Davis-Garcia fight is the fact that it's a match about which any two people—presuming they know what they're looking at—can give polar opposite forecasts.

It's no stretch to suggest the 5'10" Garcia could simply overwhelm the 5'6" Davis with a blend of speed and power that'll vanquish a shorter opponent. Nor is it reaching to say that Davis can put on the same subtle but effective pressure he's used in sizing up opponents early before chopping them down late.

Which means the truth probably resides in the middle.

Given Tank's tendency to start slow and, as the new wave of fight analysts would say, "collect data," it's not hard to fathom Garcia opening matters on the front foot and pressing the action. Assuming the sorts of decisive shots Garcia seeks early don't land, it's then likely the landscape shifts to one where Davis is the one moving forward to initiate exchanges and looking for payoff on early-round work.

There's no guarantee Davis escapes an opening barrage, which makes the pick risky at best and foolish at worst. But the guess nevertheless is that he will get going soon enough to grab either a late stoppage or a decision that ought to read 7-5 or 8-4 in rounds.

But this being boxing and Las Vegas, the biggest stretch is that all three judges agree, so a split decision may be the best bet of all.

Prediction: Davis by decision

—Lyle Fitzsimmons

Garcia by Decision

Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions via Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JULY 16: Ryan Garcia winner by KO (0:27 of round 6) in the Super Light weight fight against Javier Fortuna at Crypto.com Arena on July 16, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions via Getty Images)

The social media following that Garcia has garnered distracts from this indiscernible fact about him: He's a darn good boxer.

Yes, he's brash and cocky. But it ain't bragging if you can back it up. Davis' vaunted punching power should concern anyone who gets in the ring with him, but it's not like Garcia doesn't have the hands to put Tank down. Just look at this highlight reel, it's all there for you to see.

And there's something to be said about Davis' will in a long fight with an equally skilled opponent. Tank has never been officially knocked down in his career; Garcia has. After being knocked down in his January 2021 fight against Luke Campbell, Garcia responded with a resounding victory to win the interim WBC lightweight title.

So how will Davis respond if he goes into deep water with Garcia? We've seen what King Ryan can do; can Davis do the same?

The pick here: No.

Prediction: Garcia by decision

—Lucky Ngamwajasat

Davis by Knockout

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File

FILE - Gervonta Davis celebrates during a WBA Super Lightweight world championship boxing match against Mario Barrios on Sunday, June 27, 2021, in Atlanta. Gervonta Davis may have met his match when it comes to trading insults. Now it's about trading punches, and he believes he does that far better than Rolando Romero, his opponent Saturday night when he defends his lightweight title in a matchup of unbeatens in Brooklyn. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

The time has finally come.

Gervonta "Tank" Davis (28-0, 26 KOs) and Ryan "King Ry" Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs) is a thrilling clash between rivals and knockout artists seeking to be the face of the sport.

This fight does not lack compelling storylines. Will the rehydration clause be a factor? Can Garcia avoid getting caught like he did against Luke Campbell? Which will connect first: King Ry's dangerous left jab or Tank's frightening left uppercut?

Although Davis has stopped heavier fighters such as Mario Barrios, Garcia will prove to be a much greater challenge because of his lightning-fast hand speed and accuracy. It will be intriguing to see if Garcia takes advantage if Davis shows patience early.

In Davis' last couple of bouts, he used the beginning of the fight to feel out his opponent before eventually setting up his power shots in the mid-to-late rounds. Garcia is a far greater fighter than Rolly Romero or Hector Luis García; however, Davis has frightening power.

Because King Ry is not known for his defense, it will get ugly once he gets caught. Tank once asked: "How can you stop someone that can actually hit?" One day we may find out, but that will not be Saturday.

Prediction: Davis with a ninth-round KO

—Douglas A. Brown