The much-discussed fight between junior lightweight world titleholder Gervonta “Tank” Davis and former three-division world titlist Abner Mares is on.
Mares will move up in weight from the featherweight division to challenge Davis for his belt in a Showtime-televised main event on Feb. 9 at the Dignity Health Sports Park — the new name for the StubHub Center as of Jan. 1 — in Carson, California, Premier Boxing Champions announced Wednesday.
“This matchup is sure to make for a crowd pleaser, as both guys are known for delivering action when they step into the ring,” said Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, who promotes Davis. “Mares has an impressive resume and is determined to hand Davis his first loss. Davis has made a lot of noise in the sport at a young age and isn’t slowing down. He executes impressively and continues to prove that he will be the next big star in boxing.”
Davis (20-0, 19 KOs), 24, of Baltimore, will make the first defense of his second 130-pound title reign on Mares’ home turf. Davis won his belt via third-round knockout of Jesus Cuellar on April 21 but legal issues and problems with Mayweather Promotions limited him to only that fight in 2018.
His first title reign ended on the eve of a fight with Francisco Fonseca on the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor undercard in August 2017 because Davis failed to make weight. In his next bout, Davis defeated Cuellar. Now Davis is hoping to get back on track.
“I’m very excited to be showcased in my first main event in the United States on Feb. 9,” he said. “I want to make a statement in this fight by putting on a tremendous performance against an experienced [former] world champion like Abner Mares. I plan on showing everyone why I belong in pound-for-pound discussions and why I’m the most exciting champion in boxing today.”
Mares (31-3-1, 15 KOs), 33, of Montebello, California, has won world titles at bantamweight, junior featherweight and featherweight. He is coming off a hard-fought decision loss to featherweight titlist Leo Santa Cruz in a rematch in June and has been gung-ho about moving up to take on the explosive Davis.
“I wanted this fight, and I want this challenge against Gervonta Davis,” said Mares, who was a 2004 Mexican Olympian. “I’m preparing well, and I will add my fifth world title in my fourth weight class on Feb. 9 on Showtime.”
Said TGB Promotions president Tom Brown, who is co-promoting the card, “Abner Mares is looking to join a select group of boxers by winning a title in his fourth different weight class and carrying that kind of motivation into the ring is the thing that can propel a boxer to greatness.
“We’ve already seen the kind of speed and explosive punching power that Gervonta Davis brings into the ring. I expect that Mares will push him to even higher levels and that is the kind of match that should excite all boxing fans.”
Stephen Espinoza, the president of Showtime Sports, has put on several Davis and Mares fights and he knows both fighters well. He figures it will be a very interesting fight.
“This is an intriguing matchup for both men at crucial points of their careers,” Espinoza said. “Abner Mares has never backed down from a challenge, quietly building one of the strongest resumes in all of boxing while consistently delivering fight-of-the-year performances. In his first fight (at 130 pounds), Abner will be facing Gervonta Davis, one of the strongest, most talented and most exciting young champions in all of boxing. Abner seeks another signature upset in a remarkable career, while Gervonta looks to continue his streak of 11 straight stoppages against the most experienced and accomplished opponent he has faced to date.”