Gervonta Davis knocks Leo Santa Cruz out cold in round 6

Gervonta Davis starred in his first pay-per-view event against fellow champion Leo Santa Cruz. Davis gave fans around the world their money’s worth. 

On Oct. 31, WBA “regular” lightweight champion Gervonta Davis met WBA junior lightweight champion Leo Santa Cruz in a Showtime pay-per-view main event. Santa Cruz was supposed to test Davis, but Davis proved that he’s on another level.

Before the fight, Santa Cruz told FanSided that he felt ready for the 25-year-old Davis. For the first several rounds, Santa Cruz lived up to his word, but things got away from him for one instant, and that made all the difference.

Round 1 was filled with drama. Davis got off to a hot start. He targeted Santa Cruz’s body and connected with a left uppercut to the body. He showed the faster hands and bloodied Santa Cruz’s face early.

Just when Davis looked like he was dominating, Santa Cruz came forward and put Davis down. Initially, it looked like a knockdown, but the replay showed that the southpaw Davis tripped on the orthodox Santa Cruz’s left lead leg. The referee was on top of it and ruled it a slip. However, seeing Davis go down gave Santa Cruz confidence.

Santa Cruz took the center of the ring in round 2 and had Davis moving backward. Santa Cruz scored with his jab leading the way, and Davis couldn’t get inside. He grew frustrated and threw Santa Cruz to the ground while in a clinch.

Gervonta Davis and Leo Santa Cruz went at it, but Davis opened everyone’s eyes to his true talent and limitless potential

The referee cautioned Davis, and the pro-Santa Cruz Alamodome crowd booed Davis’s lack of sportsmanship. It was a great round for Santa Cruz, but Davis evened the score in rounds 3 and 4. Santa Cruz had his moments in those rounds, but Davis’s power punches were eyecatching.

Round 5 was competitive, and round 6 looked like it was all Santa Cruz, but trouble was brewing in Davis’s left fist.

Santa Cruz and Davis went back and forth. Cruz pushed Davis back to the ropes and was landing combinations, but Davis stormed back. They continued to exchange, but that’s when Davis unleashed a vicious left uppercut that crashed against Santa Cruz’s jaw and knocked him out cold.

Santa Cruz never saw the punch coming and was motionless on the canvas. It was a contender for knockout of the year and scary as time went by with Santa Cruz lying on the ground. The crowd was stunned and concerned, as was Davis, who looked on nervously in his corner.

Thankfully, Santa Cruz regained consciousness and made it to his feet under his own power. The four-division champion Santa Cruz had never been stopped, but Davis changed that.

With his round 6 KO win over Santa Cruz, Davis is now the WBA “regular” lightweight champion and WBA junior lightweight champion. He will likely vacate the junior lightweight title and is one of the scariest lightweight fighters around.

Teofimo Lopez is the undisputed division champion, but Davis might be the most explosive. His KO of Santa Cruz will make people question if he is the best natural talent in the division. A Davis vs. Lopez matchup would get worldwide attention. Davis passed his first pay-per-view bout with flying colors.