A vicious left uppercut from Gervonta Davis ensured he remains unbeaten and stopped Leo Santa Cruz dead in his tracks during a sensational title fight for the WBA lightweight and super featherweight straps at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas on Saturday night. American Davis dazzled throughout the six rounds that the contest stretched and when he delivered the finish it was ferocious, handing Los Angeles-based Mexican Santa Cruz (37-2-1) the first knockout loss of his career. The stirring contest was the biggest test of Davis’ (24-0) short career and the 25-year-old came through the examination with flying colours. Both fighters indicated they were ready to stand and trade from the first bell and Santa Cruz got the better of a rapid opening, with Davis admitting after the fight he came in cold and needed time to warm to his task. Teofimo Lopez defeats Vasyl Lomachenko to become undisputed lightweight champion But as the fight wore on Davis was at his blistering best firing in a series of punishing combinations as he marked up the face of his Mexican opponent. It was obvious who the limited crowd at the Alamodome were pulling for but it was never as clear as when Davis’ divisive promoter Floyd Mayweather Jnr approached the ring to bark advice at his Baltimore charge. “Money” was roundly booed throughout. STATEMENT. MADE. @Gervontaa #DavisSantaCruz pic.twitter.com/1cO59wCog9 — SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) November 1, 2020 As the fight wore one, Santa Cruz needed the crowd’s support more and more, forced as he was to bite down on the gumshield and exchange with the concussive Davis as the punishment ratcheted up. One flashpoint in the fourth stanza saw Santa Cruz seemingly dazed after another whirring combination from the American, only for him to dig in and hurt Davis right back in a stirring conclusion to the round. Oleksandr Usyk beats Dereck Chisora to set up world heavyweight title shot By the start of the sixth, Davis was well in his groove and was hurting the brave Mexican more and more. His body work was now paying dividends with Santa Cruz blowing hard in addition to a cut on the bridge of his nose that could not be stymied. When the ending came it was devastating. A perfect left hook landed with artistic timing and delivered with devilish force: Santa Cruz was prone on the canvas for a disconcertingly long time. “He was just right there for it (the winning shot),” Davis said afterwards. “He’s a guy who throws punches but doesn’t try to get out of the way. “He’s a tough warrior and a strong Mexican – he came to fight, he came ready. It’s just I was a better person tonight.” Gervonta Davis caught him with the uppercut (via @ShowtimeBoxing ) pic.twitter.com/CNbCBAsrsh — Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 1, 2020 The 32-year-old eventually rose to his feet to congratulate the new king of lightweight boxing, who refused to identify his next victim when pressed and simply declared he was ready for anyone. “I’m a pay-per-view star,” Davis said. “I’m not ducking and dodging anybody – I’m No 1. I’m the top dog and everyone knows that. Just line them up – I’ll knock them out one by one.” On this showing there will be few in the division willing to take a ticket for that queue.
