Comments Thread For: Gervonta Davis: I Definitely Was Nervous The Whole Night; I Didn't Wanna Get Caught

[Curt Henning]

You've mentioned the promotional concerns as an obstacle, but please outline how you rationalized that Tank vs Loma is not a PPV event, considering Tank vs Barrios was given that status. It's one of the most incredible opinions I've ever read on these forums. I'm genuinely curious to know how you came to that assessment.

theres a difference between a fight thats put on ppv and a ppv fight.....both tanks fights, barrios/LSC, arent ppv fights...they were fights put on ppv....like teos defense on triller...that aint a ppv fight...its a fight put on ppv....i could make any two guys fight and maybe charge 10 bucks for it.....or to stream it online.....doesnt make it a ppv fight.....

wilder vs fury is a ppv fight...bud vs spence is a ppv fight.....you get the drift? in order to get bob and haymon to work together in this manner it has to be a ppv fight......loma hasnt done his own yet....its borderline that loma/tank is a ppv fight...its close...but prob just misses the mark....i dont think its big enough that bob would want to work with the other side on it....loma is a good name in the sport but a matchup between him and tank right now prob misses the mark of being a true, ppv worthy, fight......and thats kinda what you need to get arum and haymon working together

[Ray*]

I could see hesitation whilst watching the highlights, good thing was TBE woke him up. Not sure which round it was that Barrios buzzed him, i think after that he was a little bit more careful.

[Boxingfanatic75]

I never said anything like that.

Speaking in general not necessarily you.

[THC]

theres a difference between a fight thats put on ppv and a ppv fight.....both tanks fights, barrios/LSC, arent ppv fights...they were fights put on ppv....like teos defense on triller...that aint a ppv fight...its a fight put on ppv....i could make any two guys fight and maybe charge 10 bucks for it.....or to stream it online.....doesnt make it a ppv fight.....

wilder vs fury is a ppv fight...bud vs spence is a ppv fight.....you get the drift? in order to get bob and haymon to work together in this manner it has to be a ppv fight......loma hasnt done his own yet....its borderline that loma/tank is a ppv fight...its close...but prob just misses the mark....i dont think its big enough that bob would want to work with the other side on it....loma is a good name in the sport but a matchup between him and tank right now prob misses the mark of being a true, ppv worthy, fight......and thats kinda what you need to get arum and haymon working together

Most def, the only way Arum and Haymon do a fight together is if the event makes more money for both sides than if either did an in-house promotion alone.

I also agree with your explanation of the difference between a true PPV fight and one that's held as a PPV event. As you pointed out yourself, none of Tank's fights have been the former. So I find it nauseous that Ellerbe tauts these PPV fights as proof of Tank's greatness, when in fact they have largely failed to provide anything of the sort, whereas Tank vs Loma would 100% bring that out.

And if Loma is not PPV-worthy, how about Teo Lopez? I reckon that fight would make far more than Tank vs Barrios, enough to satisfy Arum and Haymon.

[GhostofDempsey]

If he was nervous all night against Barrios, imagine how he'll be if he has to get into a ring with an elite level opponent. Hence the only in-house fighters going forward policy. They are trying so hard to avoid a Broner 2.0 where Broner actually stepped up to tough opponents and challenged himself, but came out on the losing end. We won't see that with Tank, Ellerbe and Floyd are already lining up excuses not to fight Taylor, Lopez or anyone who may be a threat at 135.

[Curt Henning]

Most def, the only way Arum and Haymon do a fight together is if the event makes more money for both sides than if either did an in-house promotion alone.

I also agree with your explanation of the difference between a true PPV fight and one that's held as a PPV event. As you pointed out yourself, none of Tank's fights have been the former. So I find it nauseous that Ellerbe tauts these PPV fights as proof of Tank's greatness, when in fact they have largely failed to provide anything of the sort, whereas Tank vs Loma would 100% bring that out.

And if Loma is not PPV-worthy, how about Teo Lopez? I reckon that fight would make far more than Tank vs Barrios, enough to satisfy Arum and Haymon.

i agree that tanks last two fights arent ppv worthy....and i agree that ellerbe stuff is silly..hes just doing what he can to pump the tank up.....

id say that tank vs loma right now prob is a ppv worthy fight....def worthy and def better than tank/barrios no question....the problem is that loma/teo 2 could also be one...teo vs taylor is also a fight arum can do that benefits his company....even taylor/bud would be good for top rank.......why is arum gonna give up his fighter to a fight with tank when he can pit them against each other, get both paid, and have dibs on the winner?

if tank aint a star then what seperates tank vs loma or tank vs teo from loma vs teo or teo vs taylor?

[THC]

if tank aint a star then what seperates tank vs loma or tank vs teo from loma vs teo or teo vs taylor?

I think Davis is an attraction but I think he would be a bigger star if he beats Loma, Lopez, Garcia, Haney, or Taylor or even Prograis.

The biggest issue I have with contemporary criteria that determine greatness is the focus on earnings. Ray Leonard is an absolute ATG not because he made a boatful of cash, but because his resume is chock full of great fights, difficult fights involving the best fighters of his era. His super fights were true PPV events. His fans never bragged about how much he made in his fights against Hearns or Duran or Hagler. That was totally unnecessary and irrelevant. The greatness of the man was self-evident in his fights, who he fought, how he won, or even how he lost. Ultimately, he can claim that he fought the very best available. That cannot be said about Tank. And increasingly, Crawford as well.

[Curt Henning]

I think Davis is an attraction but I think he would be a bigger star if he beats Loma, Lopez, Garcia, Haney, or Taylor or even Prograis.

The biggest issue I have with contemporary criteria that determine greatness is the focus on earnings. Ray Leonard is an absolute ATG not because he made a boatful of cash, but because his resume is chock full of great fights, difficult fights involving the best fighters of his era. His super fights were true PPV events. His fans never bragged about how much he made in his fights against Hearns or Duran or Hagler. That was totally unnecessary and irrelevant. The greatness of the man was self-evident in his fights, who he fought, how he won, or even how he lost. Ultimately, he can claim that he fought the very best available. That cannot be said about Tank. And increasingly, Crawford as well.

i find it funny that you say "it can be said about tank...and increasingly crawford as well"....you realize tank isnt even 27 yet and bud is what? 34? about to be 34?.....i think you should reverse that "that cannot be said about bud and tank increasingly as well"....tank still has time to build a solid resume...just because you may not get a fight or two right now that you want doesnt mean he wont have good fights.....if tank is buds age and still has a resume that leaves alot to be desired.....ok fair point....but right now he should get a benefit of the doubt

no one is rendering tank some huge success or a "great" right now....and certainly not because hes selling tickets and selling well...what theyre saying is that him selling tix and doing ppvs and selling is good for the future....if he builds his name up and and brand then people will get in line to fight him

the same way buds fans/supporters say the pbc is freezing him out(not really entirely true) could be the same argument tank fans could make soon if arum chooses to make teo/loma 2...or teo/taylor...or taylor/bud.......the difference is tank signed with the guys he did in order to build himself... he decided to align himself with powerful and successful people at a young age in order to establish himself......but signing with top rank and building himself into a name was all good....great move and it worked....but he knew the landscape of the division at a certain point and how the pbc/top rank war plays out...how it plays out for him...and he still re-signed with TR knowing what could happen......i believe tank is setting himself up to be in a position where guys on the other side will want to come after him because hes worth it

[THC]

i find it funny that you say "it can be said about tank...and increasingly crawford as well"....you realize tank isnt even 27 yet and bud is what? 34? about to be 34?.....i think you should reverse that "that cannot be said about bud and tank increasingly as well"....tank still has time to build a solid resume...just because you may not get a fight or two right now that you want doesnt mean he wont have good fights.....if tank is buds age and still has a resume that leaves alot to be desired.....ok fair point....but right now he should get a benefit of the doubt

No, I have it right. Crawford became undisputed champ at 140, not just a belt holder like Davis. Bud has that in his resume no matter what happens at 147. My point is, he's done remarkably little at 147, just like Tank after Pedraza.

i believe tank is setting himself up to be in a position where guys on the other side will want to come after him because hes worth it

After his last re-up with Top Rank, I no longer believe that Crawford is keen on claiming 147 supremacy because as you mentioned, he did so knowing the business landscape regarding which fights are possible. He's getting a few million dollars per fight against in-house opponents or past-prime names. If he stays with Arum this October when his current contract expires, that would confirm things for me. Similarly, if Tank continues to fight B-level guys like Barrios and avoids the best lightweights, I would likewise place him that category, because I suspect other 136 belt holders would gladly fight him now.

I've always felt that a belt holder should be willing to face the best contenders possible, regardless of age. Otherwise, the status of holding one of those leather trinkets becomes meaningless. If you declare yourself a "champion", you must accept the responsibility of fighting the best going forward. Otherwise, the sport robs its fans.

[Curt Henning]

No, I have it right. Crawford became undisputed champ at 140, not just a belt holder like Davis. Bud has that in his resume no matter what happens at 147. My point is, he's done remarkably little at 147, just like Tank after Pedraza.
After his last re-up with Top Rank, I no longer believe that Crawford is keen on claiming 147 supremacy because as you mentioned, he did so knowing the business landscape regarding which fights are possible. He's getting a few million dollars per fight against in-house opponents or past-prime names. If he stays with Arum this October when his current contract expires, that would confirm things for me. Similarly, if Tank continues to fight B-level guys like Barrios and avoids the best lightweights, I would likewise place him that category, because I suspect other 136 belt holders would gladly fight him now.

I've always felt that a belt holder should be willing to face the best contenders possible, regardless of age. Otherwise, the status of holding one of those leather trinkets becomes meaningless. If you declare yourself a "champion", you must accept the responsibility of fighting the best going forward. Otherwise, the sport robs its fans.

the sports has been robbing the fans...for years....and it wont stop.....i learn to view the sport through that lense instead of that idealistic world where the fans really matter and we get the fights we want when we get them.....we dont and we wont

what does tank do if bob arum refuses to let guys like loma and teo near him? what if oscar says "im not risking ryan against tank this early...ryan is the face of my company now"?