Returning from a 14-month-long layoff, reigning WBA lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis returned to the squared circle for a title clash against undefeated Michigan native Frank Martin.
Davis enters his latest title defense sitting on a 29-0 record, his last victory coming against boxing sensation Ryan Garcia in April 2023. Three months after Davis’ win over ‘King Ryan,’ Martin scored his 18th straight victory, defeating Artem Harutyunyan via unanimous decision.
Davis and Martin go into their Saturday night scrap with a combined 39 career wins by way of knockout.
Round 1
Davis takes the center of the ring as Martin opens the round by throwing out a few jabs. Martin throws a left to the body. Davis pushes him into the ropes and things off are to a relatively slow start with both fighters feeling each other out. Martin throws a few more jabs. Davis responds with a short counter. Martin is the only one attempting to land offense of any kind up to this point. Martin lands a left to Davis’ face followed by a one-two as he attempts to split Davis’ guard. Martin lands a left to the body as Davis is content to just sit back and observe.
Round 2
Martin comes out firing another pair of left hands, but nothing is landing clean. Davis continues to walk forward and apply pressure but refuses to offer much else. Martin dances around the ring and throws out a few jabs and crosses. Martin continues to pepper Davis as ‘Tank’ continues to coil up. Davis finally offers something, throwing a lead left hand that bounces off Martin’s guard. Davis misses with a right hook as Martin goes back to his jab. Davis flurries and Martin quickly ties up before coming back with a stiff one-two.
Round 3
Martin explodes with a combination that’s efficiently blocked by Davis. Martin is throwing significantly more than Davis as the champ is landing little to nothing. Davis steps back into the pocket and jabs to the body. He then goes up top with a left. Davis sneaks a right hand onto Martin’s jaw. Davis tries to bully Martin into the corner but Martin explodes with a solid counter left. Martin lands a lunging one-two followed by a nice combination. Davis covers up and comes back with a right hand. Things are starting to get a little chippy as the fighters go to their corners.
Round 4
Martin goes back to work, targeting Davis’ jaw. Martin throws a flurry of strikes in the center of the ring before darting out and resetting. Davis unloads a left hand to the body and Martin tags Davis with a three-piece, hold the soda. A big uppercut from Davis just misses, and Martin almost takes him down with a single leg. Davis swings and barely misses with a heavy shot from the clinch. Martin triples up his jab. Davis rips to the body before landing a huge left uppercut to close out the round.
Round 5
Things are getting intense as Davis continues to ramp up his activity. Davis throws a flurry, but Martin quickly escapes the danger. Martin goes high, then low as Davis pressures him into the ropes, prompting Martin to frantically try and get out. Martin clinches up and returns to the center of the ring. Davis begins walking him down. Martin throws out a few jabs. Again, Martin escapes the corner, but Davis is doing a great job of cutting off the ring. Martin picks fires off a few jabs but eats an uppercut followed by a right hook. Davis swarms inside but Martin connects with a solid counter right. More jabs from Martin land as Davis goes to the body.
Round 6
Martin comes out and immediately triples up his jab as the two have a nice exchange in the center of the ring. Davis continues to walk him down and attempts to trap him in the corner. Martin jabs and circles away. Davis unleashed a flurry in the corner but couldn’t land clean. Martin escapes again and pops out a jab. A chopping left-hand lands for Davis as Martin continues to allow himself to be cornered. Davis is showing zero respect for Martin’s power. Davis doubles up his jab. Martin finally fires back and resets. Davis throws a right hand to the ribs in response.
Round 7
Martin continues to pump his jab and be evasive as Davis cuts off the ring and pressures him into the corner. A nasty left hand to the body by Davis lands. He follows it up with a sick right hand up top. Martin allows himself to be backed into the corner again and Davis tees off with heavy shots. A massive combination by Davis lands as Martin just stands in front of him with a high guard. Martin retreats as the pressure begins to mount. Davis keeps chopping away with heavy hooks. More shots against the ropes by Davis land, but a counter left by Martin catches Davis clean. Davis backs off and slows down, allowing the round to end without risking any further damage.
Round 8
Davis picks up right where he left off in round seven, stalking Martin into the corner and unloading with heavy punches. Martin escapes and peppers him with a jab. Davis eats a few more jabs then starts pummeling Martin in the corner. Davis lands a left uppercut followed by a left hook and Martin is down. Unable to continue, the referee calls for the stoppage halfway through the eighth.
Official Result: Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis def. Frank Martin via KO at 1:29 of Round 8.
Check Out Highlights From Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs. Frank Martin:
GERVONTA DAVIS WITH THE KNOCKOUT pic.twitter.com/yOEvrgtTXQ
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) June 16, 2024
GERVONTA DAVIS KO FRANK MARTIN THE 8TH ROUND 🤯😱
(via @premierboxing) pic.twitter.com/hyBNFOsNo8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 16, 2024
GERVONTA DAVIS ABSOLUTELY LAID FRANK MARTIN OUT 😤 https://t.co/cT1E8uuVkB
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 16, 2024
https://x.com/JayMMA4/status/1802192682942369872
Gervonta Davis brutally knocks out Frank Martin in the 8th round!pic.twitter.com/pN4r1kxQuo
— b0xingfan (@b0xingfan) June 16, 2024
Ryan Garcia showed Gervonta Davis his “rematch me bitch” shirt after Tank’s KO win 😂 pic.twitter.com/vZI40JM3SG
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 16, 2024
you must be Gervonta Davis hittin a backflip after knocking out Frank Martin if you think we fuckin pic.twitter.com/19XqCJXLex
— zo (@drugsheal) June 16, 2024
