After the fight: Is there anyone that can beat Gervonta Davis?

Gervonta Davis holds titles in three divisions and doesn’t show much vulnerability. Is there anyone across three divisions who can beat Davis?

Undefeated boxer and rising star Gervonta Davis impressed over the weekend with another conclusive victory over a challenging opponent. On June 26, Gervonta Davis systematically broke down Mario Barrios to notch his 25th victory and earn another title.

Looking at Davis’s versatility in the ring and with his ability to compete in several different divisions, is there anyone that can beat the 26-year-old Davis?

A select few names stand a chance, but it’s not clear if they would be decisive favorites against Davis if they shared the ring.

Out of the three belts that Davis currently holds, only his WBA super featherweight title is a primary title. His WBA “regular” lightweight and super lightweight titles are a derivative of the real thing. Those belts are held by the only two boxers that might be favorites over Davis if they were to fight.

It’s unlikely that Davis will campaign as a super featherweight again, but not impossible. In that division, Oscar Valdez is the most talented boxer other than Davis. Like Davis, Valdez packs a powerful punch, as evidenced by his 79 percent KO rating. The 30-year-old southpaw from Sonora, Mexico, saw his credibility boosted after he knocked out Miguel Berchelt in February.

Davis vs. Valdez would be a major pay-per-view, but Davis has the edge in power, skill, and speed. It’s a competitive contest on paper, but Davis has every advantage by evaluating the skills of both side-by-side.

On social media, young lightweights Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney have had exchanges with Davis. Haney and Garcia might hold the edge in a war of words on Twitter, but Davis would take both apart in the ring at this moment.

Garcia might have faster hands than Davis, but his defensive skills are lacking. He fights upright and would leave his chin open for a Davis uppercut or hook. Garcia weathered adversity against Luke Campbell in January, but he lacks the experience to contend with Davis.

Gervonta Davis made another statement against Mario Barrios, but who’s next?

Haney’s stock has dropped over his last two fights. He beat Yuriorkis Gamboa by decision in 2020, but it was an ugly fight that bored fans. That’s not all Haney’s fault, but his close call in the final rounds against Jorge Linares in his last bout leaves major question marks surrounding Haney’s potential and durability in the ring. Haney would be a massive underdog against Davis.

Teofimo Lopez is the undisputed lightweight champion of the world. He’s a refined boxer, power puncher, and smart fighter. He out-fought and out-thought Vasiliy Lomachenko to earn undisputed status. Nothing can take that away from Lopez. However, people remember knockouts, and Davis’s last two KO endings against Leo Santa Cruz and Barrios will linger in people’s minds for some time.

Lopez stands the best chance of beating Davis across the three divisions mentioned. The 23-year-old has youth and athleticism on his side, but Davis still has the edge in power. In terms of boxing skills, it’s a stalemate between the two. Davis vs. Lopez has a 50-50 feel, but Lopez would probably be a slight betting favorite.

That’s one of those megafights people would shell out big bucks for, but Davis is a PBC fighter, and Lopez is aligned with Top Rank. Mayweather even said after Davis’s win over Barrios that they will look to keep Davis fighting in-house.

Like Lopez, Josh Taylor is the undisputed upper lightweight champion and would also be a slight betting favorite over Davis. His size advantage would help him out, but Davis has the faster hands and the more devastating punch. This is another 50-50 fight, but one that Davis could win. Davis is in any fight that can be made from super featherweight through super lightweight.

Also, like Lopez, Taylor is a Top Rank fighter. Lopez and Taylor are the biggest threats to Davis but unlikely to get paired with Davis due to the red tape of the boxing business. The version of Vasiliy Lomachenko, who thrashed Masayoshi Nakatani, would make things interesting, but Lomachenko gets gun shy against boxers with high-end power like Davis’s. It would still be a fun, competitive matchup, but Lomachenko is another Top Rank boxer.

Outside of those three names, Davis should run roughshod over all other contenders. Regis Prograis has power, but Davis is the better technical fighter and would look to break him down much as he did to Barrios. Prograis would be a challenge, but Davis’s abilities are just a step ahead.

Scan the ratings, and there’s no PBC fighter across those three divisions that can legitimately challenge Davis. Prograis is the best out there. Lomachenko would give Davis problems, and Lopez and Taylor have the ability to match Davis.

Out of all those names, Prograis is the only realistic matchup at this point. It would be great if more crossover bouts between PBC and Top Rank could get made, but those are a rarity. Davis has a lot of positive momentum, but he needs a serious challenge to keep it going.