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Mike CoppingerESPN
Gervonta “Tank” Davis has blossomed into a star with the guidance of Floyd Mayweather, but after seven years, the relationship could be reaching its end.
He meets Rolando “Rolly” Romero in a lightweight bout Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (9 p.m. ET, Showtime PPV), and Davis, 27, has stated it’s the last fight of his multiyear deal with Mayweather Promotions.
“It’s my career, so I feel as though I need to be the one that controls my career. It’s time,” Davis said this week on “The Last Stand Podcast.”
“Everybody don’t need to have them training wheels on them forever. It’s time to ride their own bike without training wheels.”
Despite Davis’ quiet nature, he has developed into one of the biggest stars in boxing, capable of selling out arenas across the U.S. His fight with Romero is his third consecutive PBC on Showtime PPV main event, and his crowds are constantly filled with some of the biggest names in rap and sports.
Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) signed with Mayweather Promotions in 2016 (one year after Davis did) and knows first-hand the power of being attached to a megastar like Mayweather.
“Floyd did a great job with him,” Romero, 26, told ESPN. “Without Floyd, Gervonta Davis is nothing. He may still have his skill set and all this, you know. But as far as marketing, he has zero personality.
“He doesn’t do anything to help the sport of boxing. He’s actually a piece of s— to most people in the boxing world. He just treats people like s—. I really don’t have to go too much into detail.”
Romero is a 5-1 underdog, per Caesars Sportsbook, and with good reason. He’s untested on the top level and is taking a quantum leap in competition with the assignment against Davis.
But Romero is confident his genuine punching power and awkward style will spring the upset.
“First-round KO,” Romero said. “He’s going to walk into something because he’s f—ing stupid. … He should be extremely grateful for Floyd. Floyd didn’t look at him like his fighter. Floyd looked at him like his son.
“He’s ungrateful; Floyd f—ing spoiled him. Like beyond spoiled him. He’s an ungrateful piece of s—. And it’s the truth.”