Top-rated junior middleweight contender Tim Tszyu gave his take on Saturday’s lightweight showdown between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Showtime Pay-Per-View will carry the fight.
Last December in Los Angeles, Tszyu trained at the same gym as Garcia. Tszyu was preparing for the undisputed fight with Jermell Charlo, before the fight was called off.
Tszyu views the contest between Davis and Garcia as a 50-50 fight.
“While my head is saying it will be a Tank win, my heart is saying Garcia. And I really do believe this fight could go either way. If Ryan is able to stay on distance, move a little bit when Tank attacks, I feel like he’ll be able to pick up rounds, eventually win a decision. But I also see Tank being able to pull the trigger, too,” Tszyu told Fox Sports Australia.
“[Tank is] a slow starter, can take time to read opponents and isn’t consistent in rounds, fighting in spurts. But it’s also in those spurts he can get the job done. And if Tank finds that opening, yeah, game over. If he wins it will be by knockout.”
Tszyu got to know Garcia at the gym and was pleasantly surprised by his boxing knowledge.
“Ryan’s knowledge of boxing history, that really surprised me. He’s a real student of the game. Really knows his fights.” For example, you wouldn’t think someone that age would know a lot about my father. But he knew everything, man. It really surprised me,” Tszyu said.
“I remember we were talking about the left hook. That’s his favorite punch and Ryan was talking about (throwing it) like a whip. You don’t have to hit it hard, just touch them on the side of the temple. They were just chats that only boxing people would really understand, I guess. But he really is just a good bloke.”