Home Boxing News Robert Garcia makes his prediction for Mario Barrios vs Tank Davis fight

Robert Garcia makes his prediction for Mario Barrios vs Tank Davis fight

Gervonta 'Tank' Davis and Mario Barrios. Photo credit: Amanda Westcott/Showtime

Trainer of champions Robert Garcia is predicting a points victory for WBA ‘regular’ titleholder Mario ‘El Azteca’ Barrios 26-0 (17) when he takes on Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis 34-0 (23) at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday night.

The 26-year-old Barrios will be making the second defence of the vacant title he won against Russian southpaw Batyr Akhmedov 8-1 (7) by unanimous decision in Los Angeles in September 2019. In his last fight he stopped game Texan Ryan ‘Cowboy’ Karl 18-3 (12) in six rounds to retain his belt in San Antonio last October.

Talented Baltimore southpaw Davis, 26, is coming off a vicious one-punch knockout victory over WBA super featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz 37-2-1 (19) in the headline fight on the same card.

Davis will be hoping his power moves up with him in weight with the bout taking place 10-pounds heavier than his last outing. He will also be giving up almost five inches and height and almost four inches in reach against natural junior welterweight Barrios.

Garcia sees it as a 50/50 fight but slightly favour his fellow Mexican-American to eke out the victory on the judges’ scorecards.

“I think it’s gonna be a really good fight,” Garcia told FightHubTV. “I think it’s a tough fight for both. I know that Gervonta Davis is probably the one that mostly everybody expects to win but I’m going with Barrios.

“I gotta go with Barrios, he’s a Mexican, Mexican-American, from San Antonio. I love San Antonio, I have a lot of fighters from San Antonio so my heart is with Barrios but it’s gonna be a tough fight.

“I think Gervonta Davis has insane power and he’s willing to take a risk by moving up in weight so I would probably favour Gervonta but I’m going with Barrios, honestly. I would like to see Barrios win.

“I think it’s gonna be a decision. I think Gervonta Davis has the power but I think it’s gonna be hard for him to land that solid punch and hurt Barrios because Barrios is very big and tall. I don’t think Tank lands that one punch to knock him out, so I think it goes the distance.”

Barrios is bullish about his chances and is expecting a fast-paced brawl with lots of power shots.

“I have all of the tools and I have the size to present a lot of difficulties to Tank and that’s what I plan on doing,” Barrios said.

“Both of us throw with bad intentions. We’re in there to hurt and take out our opponent. May the best man win, whether it is round one or round 12.”

Davis says it isn’t him who has made a mistake in moving up in weight, but instead Barrios for accepting the fight.

“I think he is making a mistake,” Davis said. “It’s not just the height. He thinks he’s stronger than me, so we are just going to have to wait and see.

“If he believes that I’ve never seen anyone like him, then so be it. But they always learn on fight night. That’s when the real me comes out.”

Barrios added: “Like [Davis’ advisor] Leonard Ellerbe said, they have big plans for him. I fully intend on fucking up those plans come Saturday.”