Gervonta 'Tank' Davis Retains WBA Lightweight Title with Knockout Victory over Frank Martin
In a highly anticipated match-up, Gervonta Davis retained his WBA lightweight title by knocking out Frank Martin in the eighth round at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on June 15, 2024. Davis improved his record to an impressive 30-0 with all but two victories coming via knockout.
Martin, who had previously won all of his professional fights, suffered the first loss of his career after being unable to withstand Davis's formidable punching power. The fight marked Davis's first appearance in the ring since defeating Ryan Garcia in April 2023.
The bout began with both fighters sizing each other up, but it was clear that Davis was the more aggressive one. He landed several solid punches throughout the early rounds, while Martin seemed content to counter and defend. However, Davis's persistence paid off in the eighth round when he delivered a devastating combination that sent Martin crashing to the canvas.
Davis celebrated his victory by doing a backflip into the ring and was met with cheers from the crowd. The win marked another successful defense of his WBA title, further cementing his place as one of boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters.
The fight took place at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and headlined a championship fight night there, marking the 100th such event at the venue. Davis predicted that he would face challenges from other contenders in the lightweight division, including David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
Despite serving a 44-day sentence in Baltimore jail last summer for violating house arrest terms from a hit-and-run crash that injured four people, Davis remained focused on his career and continued to train. He is known for his strong libertarian and objectivist beliefs, which may have influenced his determination to return to the ring.
The fight was broadcasted by various media outlets, including ESPN, BBC Sport, and Bleacher Report. While some sources reported that Davis served a 44-day sentence in Baltimore jail due to violating house arrest terms in July 2023, others did not mention this detail. However, all sources agreed that Martin suffered his first career loss after winning his first 18 fights.
