Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis: ‘I’m Gonna Split All That Up Under Your Eyes’

Wednesday’s press conference in Las Vegas for Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs Frank Martin was highly anticipated, with Davis not attending the grand arrivals on Tuesday. Davis apologized to the fans waiting for him at the grand arrivals and promised to take some pictures with the fans shortly after the fight. Meanwhile, during the presser, Davis and Martin exchange pleasantries during their face-off, and Davis makes Martin flinch after making a body gesture as if he is going to throw a punch. Social media made a huge deal out of this moment, with the video clip going viral almost instantaneously.

Meanwhile, there were other moments where Davis was picking at former unified welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr., who was in attendance to promote his fighter in Martin. Davis has been showing a different side of his personality for this matchup, which can make for more crossover attention from those who casually follow the sport.

Here are the quotes from Wednesday’s press conference.

GERVONTA DAVIS

“I’m gonna break you up. I’m gonna split all that up under your eyes. Every time I tell people something is gonna happen, what happens?

“It hasn’t even hit him yet. He’ll see Saturday. It’s gonna hit him. Especially when I touch him. What is he bringing to the table that I haven’t seen?

“Come out this Saturday, because it’s gonna be a great fight with a great undercard. Don’t get your popcorn, or your juice, stay locked in. Because I’ve been locked in for a long time now and my give back is gonna be a great performance on Saturday night.

“He’s shaking up there. He was talking tough yesterday when it was just him. It’s gonna show. He’s a frontrunner.

“He’s just worried about not getting knocked out. He’s not worrying about winning. He’s trying not to get knocked out.

“All that movement he has is just fake footwork, it’s regular. Mediocre.”

FRANK MARTIN

“June 15 it’s going down. We’re here. Like I’ve said before, I appreciate ‘Tank’ giving me the opportunity to whoop his ass. He just hasn’t been in there with anybody like me.

“This can go down however he wants it to go down. If he acts up, like I’ve been saying, you’re gonna see Gervonta Davis get knocked out. If he acts up, he’s getting knocked out, period. If he acts crazy, he’s going to sleep.

“Calvin’s telling me to push those buttons, well I’m coming to push every button he’s got. Come out and expect a good fight. Let’s get it.

“He’s been working his ass off, because he knows what time it is. He’s been grinding. We haven’t seen too much of you. It’s because he knows this is real.

“It’s a blessing to be in this position, but it won’t hit me until I get the win. I feel like I worked, and that’s why I’m here. Now I have to get this win and then it’ll all hit me.

“He comes out to hurt everyone he fights. We’ve heard that before. We’re not worried about none of that. We’re ready for whatever he’s about to bring. We got his number.

“I just have to go in there and fight my fight, be comfortable . He has good power, but it doesn’t matter.

“I’m here to get my hand raised and come out with that WBA strap. Then there’s a new face in the seat, and it’s gonna be me.”

ERROL SPENCE JR., Pound-for-Pound Star & Martin’s Promoter

“Come Saturday night, I guarantee you that Frank is going to put on a great show and a great performance. He’s ready for this moment and he’s been ready for this moment for a long time.

“I’ve just told Frank to stay focused, stay hungry and stay dedicated. It’s all about the grind. That’s how he got to this point.

“I guarantee you that Frank is going to show everyone why he’s the best 135-pounder in the world, and the new WBA Lightweight World Champion.”

CALVIN FORD, Davis’ Trainer

“On the 100^th championship fight night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, you’re going to see greatness that night. I want people to leave this show like they just watched a karate movie and say that they wanna fight just like ‘Tank’. We’re gonna put that work in.

“I want Frank to come with it, because I need him to push that button. I haven’t seen it yet. I know what’s under that hood, but there’s a button yet to be pushed. I’m asking Frank to please push that button. It’s nothing personal, but Frank is in the way.

“Tank’ is pushing forward to where he’s supposed to be at, and Frank is here for a reason. Y’all haven’t seen the real ‘Tank’ yet until that button gets pushed.”

DERRICK JAMES, Martin’s Trainer

“I like that everyone is calling Frank the challenger. Because the thing about boxing is that he’ll come in as the challenger, and 1,000% he’ll leave as the champion.

“Frank had a really good camp. We’ve been able to use everything ‘Tank’ said as fuel for the fire. He wants to get in the ring and prove his point. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe in ourselves.”

TOM BROWN, President of TGB Promotions

“When ‘Tank’ fights, it’s bigger than just a championship fight night, it’s like the old days here at MGM with a Mike Tyson event. He’ll be defending his WBA title against yet another undefeated challenger in the undefeated, WBA ranked #2 contender, Frank Martin.

“It’s very exciting to be part of this 100^th championship fight night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and have this great card that will deliver another amazing atmosphere. There’s something about this building and what happens when you walk out of those locker rooms and down that tunnel, it becomes like gladiators in the arena.”

LEONARD ELLERBE, Famed Boxing Promoter

“Saturday night can’t get here fast enough. Let’s be real, in 2017 ‘Tank’ was a world champion, and Frank Martin wasn’t even a professional yet. One thing about boxing is, you can’t skip steps. It’s about experience, and you get that by consistently fighting the best.

“Frank is a good fighter, but there is a difference between good, and special. ‘Tank’ is special. Everything that Frank does good, ‘Tank’ does better. Come Saturday night, don’t blink. Because this could be over early.”

Abraham Gonzalez

Abraham Gonzalez is the founder of FightsATW. His journalistic work has been published and used across several platforms to include online, network TV and promotional companies. He is an American Public University alumnus and a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). Abraham was the Managing Editor for NYFights, Big Fight Weekend, contributed to FanSidedMMA and ProBoxTV.

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