Davis vs. Lomachenko? Will Benavidez get Canelo subsequent? What can Matias do after loss?

Gervonta Davis, certainly one of boxing’s high stars, cemented his standing Saturday as one of many sport’s greatest fighters with one other highlight-reel KO.

Certainly one of Davis’ patented left uppercuts dazed Frank Martin earlier than a left cross despatched the defenseless challenger crashing to the mat for the depend of 10 in Spherical 8. Davis, ESPN’s No. 7 pound-for-pound boxer, might meet Vasiliy Lomachenko later this yr in a light-weight summit assembly.

“Tank” Davis’ profitable WBA light-weight title protection was billed because the one hundredth championship combat at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. The bout was Davis’ first in 14 months — a seventh-round TKO of Ryan Garcia final April — and first since a 44-day jail stint final summer time.

David Benavidez made his gentle heavyweight debut within the PBC PPV co-feature with a cushty unanimous-decision victory over former champion Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Whereas Benavidez did not safe the stoppage, he did impress as he seems towards far larger fights at 175 kilos.

Elsewhere Saturday, Australia’s Liam Paro scored a serious upset with a call win over Subriel Matias to seize the IBF junior welterweight title.

This is what we realized from every of these three fights, together with the title implications following the outcomes:

Davis explosive in return; might Lomachenko be subsequent?

Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) reminded everybody he is one of many sport’s most-electrifying fighters with one other spectacular KO victory. Martin was recreation and banked some early rounds with a pointy jab. All three judges gave Martin the primary three rounds.

Preventing in his first title bout, Martin was capable of mark up Davis’ proper eye with left arms as he boxed off the again foot, however “Tank” is often a sluggish starter. This evening was no totally different.

Davis’ educated strain started to put on Martin down behind his southpaw jab and adopted with explosive left arms. It was a matter of time till a kind of photographs landed flush, and when it did, Martin could not take up it. He had by no means been knocked down earlier than however this was his first combat on the elite degree.

With one other opponent out of the best way, calls will resume for Baltimore’s Davis to combat in a title unification bout for the primary time at age 29. Preliminary talks have been held to match Davis towards IBF light-weight champion Lomachenko. Ukraine’s Lomachenko, ESPN’s No. 1 light-weight, is a future Corridor of Famer.

Davis, ESPN’s No. 2 light-weight, might additionally look to a fall combat with Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson defends his WBC 135-pound title vs. Artem Harutyunyan on July 6, and might be a promotional free agent afterward, clearing a neater path for a combat with Davis.

Benavidez dominates in 175-pound debut

One of many sport’s fastest-rising stars, Benavidez has lengthy lobbied for a shot at Canelo Alvarez, however when that wasn’t profitable, he moved as much as gentle heavyweight.

That first 175-pound bout got here vs. Gvozdyk, the previous lineal champion who as soon as TKOed Adonis Stevenson however was despatched into retirement by Artur Beterbiev in 2019.

After 3 ½ years out of the ring, Gvozdyk returned final yr with three bouts towards lower-tier opposition. He carried out properly towards Benavidez to final the space, however Gvozdyk by no means threatened to win the combat.

At his new weight, Benavidez did not unload along with his typical quantity, however confirmed off improved protection. He slipped lots of Gvozdyk’s photographs whereas he utilized strain and caught many punches on his arms.

Benavidez battered Gvozdyk’s physique and prevailed by way of scores of 119-109, 117-111 and 116-112. Subsequent up may very well be a fall combat with David Morrell, an excellent middleweight contender who’s additionally shifting as much as 175 kilos. The Cuban will make his gentle heavyweight debut Aug. 3 vs. Radivoje Kalajdzic.

The marquee combat for Benavidez — outdoors of an Alvarez assembly — is the winner of the Oct. 12 Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed gentle heavyweight championship bout.

The priority now rests on Benavidez’s energy at his new weight. Regardless of all of the harm he dealt Gvozdyk, he by no means had the Ukrainian in deep trouble. Towards a greater fighter such us Beterbiev or Bivol, Benavidez will probably should be higher.

“I used to be making an attempt to get the texture for the sunshine heavyweight division,” stated Benavidez, 27. “These guys, they hit a bit of bit tougher up right here. … Two weeks in the past I suffered a lower in my eye. … I had a torn tendon on my proper hand, and I did not assume I used to be going to make it tonight, however we pushed by it.”

Paro upset over Matias shakes up 140-pound division

For the second time in three months, there is a main upset in a junior welterweight title combat. First it was Ryan Garcia, who floored Devin Haney 3 times in a call win in April, although the consequence stands to be overturned after Garcia’s optimistic check for the banned substance ostarine.

Now it is Paro, who outlined the percentages in a 140-pound title combat with a victory over Matias in enemy territory.

Paro (24-0, 15 KOs) stood his floor within the face of Matias’ relentless strain and exchanged with the power-puncher. The win appeared removed from fluky because the 28-year-old made changes and confirmed off a flexible arsenal in a career-best efficiency.

It was one more street victory for Paro, who traveled to the U.S. in December for a sixth-round TKO win over Montana Love. After the pair of wins — this one over ESPN’s No. 2 140-pounder — the newly minted champion might discover himself within the division’s high 5 when ESPN’s rankings are up to date subsequent week.

The division is scorching. Jack Catterall rose to No. 4 within the rankings after he defeated Josh Taylor within the rematch final month. Teofimo Lopez, the lineal champion, defends his IBF title towards Steve Claggett on June 29 in Miami.

There’s now loads of enticing matchups for Paro. Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn stated he’d prefer to ship a title protection for him in Australia, the place Tim Tszyu and George Kambosos Jr. have competed in entrance of sizable crowds.

Probably the most appetizing of all is a rematch with Matias, particularly Down Underneath. The combat was a slugfest, and a return bout can be welcomed by followers.

Matias is with Matchroom, and so, too, are Catterall and Richardson Hitchins.