Gervonta Davis hits different. Really different.
In his pay-per-view debut Saturday night, Davis winded up and unleashed a scintillating left uppercut that knocked Leo Santa Cruz out cold for a sensational sixth-round KO and instant Knockout of the Year frontrunner. The punctuated victory before just north of 9,000 fans spread out at the Alamodome in San Antonio gave "Tank" the WBA super featherweight title to add to his existing WBA lightweight title.
Just like that, Davis earned his biggest victory yet and more than delivered in his first pay-per-view, as he laid the groundwork to become a superstar cash king of the sweet science for many years to come. After the bout, the 25-year-old Davis (24-0, 23 KOs) didn't mince words when critiquing the uppercut he launched to end the show early.
“He was right there for it," Davis said on Showtime about the dynamite uppercut that blasted Santa Cruz on the chin and knocked him out instantly. "He punches, but he doesn’t try to get out of the way. There was nowhere for him to go on that knockout because I got him into the corner."
Davis added: “I’m a pay-per-view star. Everybody knows I’m number one and I showed it tonight. I’m going to continue to show people all over the world that I’m the best. I don’t have to call anybody else out. I’m the top dog. Just line them up and I’ll knock them out.”
While Davis being the definitive "top dog" is still arguable, he certainly made his case as the best in his division and possibly beyond Saturday night. From the opening bell, Davis grinded and launched that left uppercut, with the shot landing on some attempts and just missing on others. When he wasn't launching that punch, he was working Santa Cruz's body with power shots. The first round had Santa Cruz pushing Davis to the ground in a gesture that Davis returned in the second, throwing all their mutual respect out of the window.
As the bout continued, the two champions took turns trading fire in electric sequences. However, every time Santa Cruz engaged in the phone booth, he left himself vulnerable. The strategy blew up in Santa Cruz's face in the sixth when Davis cornered him against the ropes, downloaded information in real-time and detonated that wicked left uppercut, which crumpled the Mexican fighter in a heap. Santa Cruz laid motionless, flat on his back for several tense seconds, before he slowly got up off the mat.
Already a star, Davis might have just launched himself into superstardom on the pay-per-view front.
Here's how the entire Davis-Santa Cruz card went.
Davis vs. Santa Cruz fight card
- Gervonta Davis def. Leo Santa Cruz via sixth-round KO to win WBA (super) junior lightweight title
- Mario Barrios def. Ryan Karl by sixth-round KO to defend WBA (regular) junior welterweight title
- Regis Prograis def. Juan Heraldez via third-round TKO; Junior welterweight
- Isaac Cruz def. Diego Magdaleno by first-round KO; Lightweight