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Gervonta Davis’ team are kicking off preparations for ‘Tank’s’ upcoming clash with Frank Martin by studying the Detroit dangerman’s skull.

The unbeaten lightweights have reportedly agreed to face each other for Davis’ WBA 147lb strap in late spring or early summer.

According to ESPN, the matchup will headline a PBC card on Prime Video pay-per-view.

READ MORE ;Gervonta Davis agrees deal to next fight fellow unbeaten American Frank Martin, who was accused of ‘ducking’ Shakur Stevenson

Davis’ coaches Calvin Ford and Kenny Ellis will now begin looking at Martin ahead of the fight.

Usually, this involves combing through hours of fight footage and coming up with a battle plan from there.

But Ellis and Ford have taken the unorthodox approach of studying Martin’s skull density as they size up the 29-year-old’s punch resistance.

“Phase one. Up early studying Frank Martin’s Skull. [He has] very thin Zygomatic bone and a thin muscle layer,” wrote Ellis on Instagram.

What they gone say now?" - Gervonta Davis and Frank Martin agreeing to deal  for PBC PPV fight has fans buzzing

“[There’s] Very high maxillary sinus. Man, oh, Man. [He’s a] good kid [with a] good team, though, no disrespect.”

For the uninitiated, the zygomatic bone is one of a pair of bones on each upper side of the face that forms the cheek and part of the eye socket while the maxillary sinus is a hollow space in the bones around the nose.

Ellis’ statement may give an insight into some potential target areas for Davis when he goes toe-to-toe with Martin.

The Baltimore banger is no stranger to shattering bones.

UPDATE ;‘He didn’t want to discuss’: Eddie Hearn says Gervonta Davis rejected offer for Conor Benn, talks Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou

 

Davis broke Hector Luis Garcia’s eye socket and cheekbone when they squared off in January of last year while he also cracked Ryan Garcia’s ribs in Davis’ last outing 10 months ago.

‘Tank’ has been sidelined since the Garcia fight due to legal issues.

The 29-year-old spent 44 days behind bars after violating the terms of his house arrest.

Gervonta Davis To Fight Frank Martin | FIGHT SPORTS

In May, Davis was sentenced to 90 days of home detention over a hit-and-run car crash in November 2020 that injured four people, including a pregnant woman.

Davis was expected to spend his home detention at his trainer Ford’s house but a judge ruled that he had violated the terms of his house arrest after moving to a hotel and then a new home, without obtaining permission.

RELATED NEWS ;Floyd Mayweather Sr Reveals ‘The Truth’ About Sparring Session Between Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis in a Resurfaced Video

Like Davis (29-0), Martin is undefeated having won all 18 of his professional bouts.

Since making his debut in the paid ranks seven years ago he has been steadily climbing the lightweight rankings and now finds himself ranked No2 with the WBA, whose title he will be fighting for against Davis.

Gervonta 'Tank' Davis or Rolly Romero - who should Frank Martin fight next?  | DAZN News US

 

Martin’s resume is considerably thinner than Davis’ but he looks to be a world-level competitor off of the eye test.

Devin Haney wants to know what Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Ryan Garcia discussed on their jog in early January, when negotiations between Haney and Garcia collapsed.

Haney produced a career-best performance to win the WBC super-lightweight title from Regis Prograis on December 9 in San Francisco, putting him on course to fight Garcia, who a week earlier had stopped Oscar Duarte Jurado in eight rounds.

READ MORE ;Floyd Mayweather’s Son Sparks Fan Frenzy With Diamond Jewelries and Cheeky Message in “Philthy Rich” Style

A Haney-Garcia fight then appeared unlikely to happen when Garcia spoke of his desire to instead challenge Rolando Romero. Confirmation of Romero’s fight with Isaac Cruz on March 30 led to a resumption in negotiations and ultimately a Haney-Garcia matchup being cemented for April 20 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Devin Haney calls Ryan Garcia his biggest rival: 'That's the fight that the  fans would love to see' | DAZN News US

“Ryan called me out, we went into discussions, and then we fell out of discussions, and we all know what happened next,” Haney told the MMA Hour. “He went on a jog with Floyd.

“He went on a jog, and then he had a change of heart, so the fight fell out. He was in negotiations with Rolly [Romero], Pitbull [Cruz], and I really didn’t know what was going on, so I was looking out at what was next [for me] because that fight fell out. Pitbull and Rolly agreed to fight, and then it was ‘Here comes Ryan.’”

JUST IN ;I fought in the greatest round of boxing in history, recorded 57 KOs but Floyd Mayweather had the best of everything

Despite the parties’ previous frustrations with one another, agreeing to terms became “easy” when they began to re-negotiate.

“It was easy, because I feel if two guys wanna make a fight happen, it’s not that hard,” Haney said. “Of course, we were back and forth over the numbers. That part will always take time, but other than that, it wasn’t really hard for the fight to be made.”

Lomachenko Negatively Compares Haney To Ryan Garcia: "People In Boxing Know"

“It’s a great deal,” Haney said, adding after being asked if he would receive a career-high purse for the fight: “By far.”

Floyd Mayweather is not hard to find on social media. However, his son, Zion Shamaree Mayweather, had taken a hiatus from social media for a while. Yet, he is back with a bang! In a recent pinch, the son of the legendary boxer turned to social media to share pictures of his diamond jewelry.

Born to Floyd’s late girlfriend, Josie Harris, Zion has dabbled in a variety of professions, including music and modeling. Though he did not follow his father into boxing, he does share a love of jewelry with him. So, when the fans got to see a post from him on Instagram flaunting his diamonds, they were left in a frenzy.

READ MORE ;FLOYD MAYWEATHER OPEN TO REMATCH WITH MANNY PACQUIAO

Turning to the social media platform, Zion shared a series of pictures of himself. He showed off his new drip while showing off his chic diamond-studded pendant. He even had a pair of custom pink Nike shoes with “Read em and weep” embroidered on the collar of the shoe. The post comes after two months of absence from the platform.

The last time Zion made the headlines was for hinting at a possible collaboration with Kodak Black for a music album.

Who is Zion Shamaree Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s son?

However, there haven’t been any developments in that regard. Meanwhile, after seeing the post from Zion after months, his fans could not help but express their excitement.

Fans can’t get enough of Zion’s impressive swag!

Within hours, the post started attracting fans and collected a plethora of remarks from fans worldwide. One user highlighted that Zion hasn’t been active on the platform for a while, hoping things have been well. The user wrote, “Ain’t see you in a while, young king. [I] hope all is well. Keep winning, bro.”

RELATED NEWS ;Floyd Mayweather Turns 47: Have a Look Inside His Insane Birthday Bash

Another user opted to share their thoughts using a GIF, claiming they loved Zion’s fashion choice. “I love the swag bags,” the GIF read.

Someone else saw Zion Mayweather as their little brother, so they commented, “I love you, baby brother.”

The next user compared Zion’s absence with Playboy Carti’s two-year-long hiatus from music. The user commented, “It’s been a year, bro, feel like Carti.”

Biodata dan Agama Zion Mayweather, Anak Floyd Mayweather Jr yang Pilih  Jalan Hidup Jadi Influencer

One user reacted to Zion’s jewelry by claiming he was filthy rich, and the user isn’t wrong! “Philthy Rich skii,” wrote the user. However, it’s worth mentioning that most of Zion’s wealth comes from his millionaire father.

UPDATE ;I fought in the greatest round of boxing in history, recorded 57 KOs but Floyd Mayweather had the best of everything

Zion Mayweather might not have followed in the footsteps of his father in boxing, but in the jewelry department, he is bang on. And evident from the comments, fans are loving it. However, what are your thoughts on Zion’s jewelry?

Amir Khan, the former unified light-welterweight world champion, has cautioned two-time WBA, WBO, and IBF champion Anthony Joshua ahead of his non-title heavyweight fight against former UFC champion Francis Ngannou.

The fight is set to take place at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 8.

Khan, who retired after his defeat to Kell Brook in their long-awaited showdown two years back, warns Joshua about the formidable challenge posed by Ngannou.

READ MORE ;I’ve sparred Anthony Joshua AND Tyson Fury, they are two different boxers and here’s how they compare

Ngannou shocked many boxing pundits with his ability when he faced WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury in their 10-round non-title fight at Boulevard Hall in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia last October. The 37-year-old Cameroonian dropped Fury with a powerful left hook in the third round and only lost by split decision by scores of 95-94, 94-95 and 93-96.

“I think Joshua is a very smart fighter,” Khan said to All Out Fighting. “It will still be a hard fight because you’ve got to understand, Ngannou got more confidence going into this fight and he thinks he can hurt and knock out Joshua.

Boxing: Amir Khan makes Anthony Joshua feelings clear ahead of Francis  Ngannou fight - 'Not to sound disrespectful'

“Ngannou says that Joshua got a weak chin, so he’s going to go for that really and try to throw those big bombs. If he connects, who knows what might happen? One thing about the heavyweight division is that if one punch lands it can change a fight.

“[Tyson Fury’s] one hard fighter to hit clean. So many top guys have tried to knock him out, knock him down or hurt him. Not to sound disrespectful – I like Joshua, I think he’s a great fighter – but I think he’s easier to hit than Fury.

RELATED NEWS ;Surprise world title fight added to Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou undercard at late notice

“The way people look at boxing now after that fight [Ngannou had] with Fury is that boxers are a little bit weaker than MMA fighters. This is where Joshua needs to show them that boxers are not weaker, boxers are better and stronger.”

Khan isn’t the only one who thinks this is a risky fight for Joshua, but one that he should win. The 34-year-old Brit even received support from an MMA legend.

“I’m rooting for Francis to win only because of his story, how far he has come in life and him being a fellow mixed martial artist,” reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones said during the broadcast of the ‘PFL vs Bellator: Champs’ event on the weekend.

🚨 Amir Khan makes Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou prediction

“How could you not root for Francis? Francis is a wonderful, stand-up person. So I’m rooting for Francis.

JUST IN ;Mike Tyson hasn coached Francis Ngannou for Anthony Joshua showdown

“But Anthony Joshua has been doing this since he was a young boy. I’m the type of guy who gives respect where it’s due. So if I had to put my money on it — not that I gamble — I would put it on Anthony Joshua. But I am rooting for Francis.”

AGRON SMAKICI became a household name after unfortunately cutting Tyson Fury – but he was already well-respected in boxing circles.

Smakici holds a 20-2 record in the ring but he is a sought after southpaw sparring partner for the likes of Fury and Anthony Joshua.

AJ recruited the Croatian before his 2022 rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk and for his last fight, a stoppage win over Otto Wallin in December.

READ MORE ;Mike Tyson hasn coached Francis Ngannou for Anthony Joshua showdown

Fury then brought Smakici over to Saudi Arabia to help him also prepare for Usyk for the planned February 17 title unification.

But the undisputed bout was scrapped just two weeks prior when Smakici accidentally elbowed Fury in sparring to cause a horror gash.

The heavyweight contender – who also holds a 1-1 MMA record – is in the unique position of having sparred Britain’s two biggest boxing stars.

Anthony Joshua predicts outcome of Tyson Fury-Oleksandr Usyk undisputed  heavyweight fight - 'A phenomenal fighter' - Eurosport

And breaking down how they compare to SunSport, Smakici said: “For me, Joshua has huge power. Knockout power.

“And Fury is a more dancer and technical boxer. It’s two kinds of worlds in boxing.”

RELATED ;Tyson Fury stance on withdrawing from Oleksandr Usyk fight revealed after Anthony Joshua offer

Joshua, 34, returns on March 8 in Riyadh against ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37.

And Smakici warned: “It’s big power, it’s huge power. We’re gonna see with Francis Ngannou. I believe Joshua is going to knock Ngannou out.”

The knockdown and stunning performance convinced AJ to come to the table for another crossover clash.

Fury v Joshua: Tyson Fury claims to have 'sent contract' to Anthony Joshua  over September fight - BBC Sport

And Smakici believes Joshua will be on his A-game after watching Fury almost fail the test of Ngannou.

UPDATE ;Anthony Joshua Changes Tune 2 Weeks Before Heavyweight Fight With Francis Ngannou

Boxing champion Claressa Shields has been facing criticism from fellow fighter Cris Cyborg who accused her of struggling to make weight for her MMA fight. The Professional Fighters League (PFL) and Bellator MMA merged for the first time, hosting a combined event called PFL vs. Bellator: Champs, on February 24th. Cyborg’s remarks about Shields in the lead-up to her match as well as post her win further fueled the already-ignited rivalry between the two.

According to Cyborg, the fight against Kelsey DeSantis was initially scheduled as a women’s lightweight bout at 155 lbs, but since Shields failed to make the weight, the fight then had to be pushed to a catchweight of 165 lbs. “Just heard Claressa Shields had to move her fight… because she can’t make the weight limit,” wrote Cyborg on X. This understandably left Shields infuriated who refused to take it lying down.

READ MORE ;Claressa Shields wins first female MMA bout in Saudi Arabia as she triumphs on return to octagon

Claressa Shields wasted no time addressing Cris Cyborg’s criticism after her recent victory. In a fiery post-fight interview, Shields declared, “I don’t give a damn about Cris Cyborg. She can’t beat me in a fight. She can’t beat me in boxing.

Claressa Shields reveals interest in PFL "dream fight" with Cris Cyborg:  "It's the scariest fight for me" | BJPenn.com

 

Furthermore, she accused Cyborg of being upset over her fight with Larissa Pacheco, the PFL champion, falling out. Shields’ frustration was evident as she continued, “But Cris Cyborg is mad because she turned down a fight…because she’s supposed to be fighting here.

However, her anger didn’t subside from just this. Later on, the undisputed champion took to Twitter to threaten Cyborg with potential legal consequences if she continued making such accusations. She wrote, “I know if @criscyborg you don’t want to get sued you better stop lying Goofy a** bum. I didn’t miss weight you clown ssa b%>€ the fight was at a catch weight 165 & I weighed in at 164.4 lower than my opponent.” 

JUST IN ;MMA: Claressa Shields beats Kelsey De Santis to make history in Saudi Arabia

Shields claimed that the fight was a catchweight and she even weighed lower than her opponent which means there is no substance to the allegations that Cyborg is making against her. That aside, she also shared her gratitude for the victory.

Claressa Shields, the boxing champion known for her grit, has added another accomplishment to her career. At 28, she stepped into the MMA ring in Saudi Arabia and emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle.

You So Goofy...' - Cris Cyborg, Claressa Shields Go At It Over Career  Accolades & Potential Boxing Fight - MMA News | UFC News, Results &  Interviews

Shields’ win over Kelsey De Santis came via a close split decision. “I had such a hard camp,” she admitted, reflecting on the experience. She added, “I almost got my arm snapped in the freakin’ armbar. I had to fight out of that.

Olympic champions Simone Biles and Mikaela Shiffrin and world champions Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson are among the nominees for the Laureus World Sports Awards honoring 2023 achievements.

The awards, in their 25th year, will be handed out at a show on April 22 in Madrid. Winners are selected by a panel of 69 Laureus World Sports Academy members, many legendary athletes.

Biles is nominated for Comeback of the Year after she won four gold medals and one silver at October’s world championships after taking nearly two years off from competition after the Tokyo Games.

READ MORE ;Will Simone Biles compete in 2024? Everything to know about the gymnast plans for the Olympic year

Biles was previously nominated for Comeback of the Year in 2022, after she returned from the twisties to earn Olympic balance beam bronze. British skateboarder Sky Brown won that year.

Biles has won Sportswoman of the Year three times, second-most in history behind Serena Williams.

Simone Biles wins record eighth title at US Gymnastics Championships | US  News | Sky News

Shiffrin and Richardson are among the nominees for Sportswoman of the Year. Last year, Shiffrin broke the Alpine skiing World Cup career wins record en route to her fifth World Cup overall title. Shiffrin was previously nominated for the award in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2023.

Richardson earned her first Laureus nomination after winning 100m gold, 200m bronze and 4x100m relay gold at August’s world track and field championships.

RELATED ;Simone Biles is not competing at Winter Cup gymnastics meet. Here why.

Fellow world champion runners Shericka Jackson of Jamaica and Faith Kipyegon of Kenya are also nominees.

Lyles was nominated for Sportsman of the Year for the first time after he swept 100m, 200m and 4x100m golds at worlds. The nominees also include Swedish pole vaulter Mondo Duplantis, soccer stars Lionel Messi of Argentina and Erling Haaland of Norway and Novak Djokovic, who won three of the four tennis Grand Slams in 2023.

Simone Biles opens up about her mental health post-Olympics: 'I'm still  scared to do gymnastics' | CNN

Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability nominees include Paralympic gold medalists Simone Barlaam of Italy (swimming), Diede de Groot of the Netherlands (wheelchair tennis) and Markus Rehm of Germany (track and field).

UPDATE ;Simone Biles Teases Undisclosed Vacation Destination As She Flies With Husband Jonathan Owens

Athletes likely to compete at the Paris Olympics are also nominees for Breakthrough of the Year (including tennis player Coco Gauff, swimmer Qin Haiyang and runner Josh Kerr) and Action Sportsperson of the Year (including surfer Caroline Marks and skateboarder Rayssa Leal).

Since crushing Errol Spence Jr. to become the first undisputed champion in two divisions, Terence Crawford has expressed his desire to build a legacy, part of which involves facing and defeating the undisputed 168-pound champion, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, in a potentially epic bout.

However, commercial commitments and Alvarez’s personal interests prevented this fight from materializing in September, as he easily defeated a weak Jermall Charlo instead. Canelo claimed it wasn’t the right time to fight Crawford, but according to ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez, that moment may come in the fall, after facing Jermall Charlo in May.

READ MORE ;Frank Stallone Thinks Terence Crawford Beats Canelo Alvarez: “You Can’t Hit What You Can’t See”

Meanwhile, this is still speculative, as there’s no official confirmation, and Crawford is one of several fighters vying for an opportunity. To increase pressure for the fight, ‘Bud’ posted a message on his X account confirming his willingness to fight and asserting that he’s the best option.

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez says fight with Terence Crawford 'doesn't make sense'  after beating Jermell Charlo | Boxing News | Sky Sports

Terence Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez is the biggest fight in boxing right now. Like it or not it’s just facts,” Crawford wrote.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith responded skeptically to Crawford‘s assertion, cautioning against false hopes.

Recently, this potential fight sparked a heated discussion on ESPN’s First Take, as an eagerly awaited, evenly matched bout between Canelo and WBC mandatory challenger David Benavidez, organized by PBC, has been anticipated since June.

However, the Mexican champion refuses to face Mexican challengers, even though both Benavidez and Jaime Munguia have proven themselves worthy of a spectacular fight, while Crawford would need to move up in weight.

JUST IN ;Teofimo Lopez Sr. Warns Terence Crawford Will Get Destroyed, Career Will Be Over In Potential Fight

Regardless, Canelo chose neither, opting instead for a straightforward match against Charlo. Concerning Crawford, although he’s a spectacular fighter, experts believe the weight difference would be too much for him.

Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez appeared to dismiss a possible bout against Terence  Crawford

Oscar De La Hoya demands an opportunity for Munguia

Amidst these speculations, promoter Oscar De La Hoya seized the opportunity to challenge Canelo on a fight against his client, Munguia, who recently demolished Englishman John Ryder.

During a press conference last Saturday, De La Hoya stated that Canelo must defend his belts against the fighter from Tijuana, Mexico, or else he cannot claim to be the ‘King of the super middleweights’.

He insisted the fight should take place on the weekend of September 16, Mexico’s National Day. It has to be noted that De La Hoya didn’t end his relationship with Canelo amicably, potentially complicating negotiations.

UPDATE ;Keyshawn Davis Accuses Canelo Alvarez of Making “Excuses” to Not Fight Terence Crawford

By agreeing to face Charlo and Crawford, Canelo Alvarez would have avoided two more undefeated younger Mexicans: Munguia (43-0, 34 KO) and Benavidez (28-0, 24 KO).

Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Frank Martin have reportedly agreed terms to fight for the WBA lightweight title.

The rivals, according to ESPN, are on course to fight either late in the spring or early in the summer, on a Premier Boxing Champions on Amazon Prime Video pay-per-view.

Davis, 29 and the defending champion, last fought in April 2023, when at a catchweight of 136lbs he stopped Ryan Garcia in seven rounds.

READ MORE ;Eddie Hearn says Gervonta Davis turned down lucrative offer to face Conor Benn

Three months later Martin earned a unanimous decision over Artem Harutyunyan, by when Davis was serving 44 days at a detention center in Baltimore, having been ruled to have violated the terms of the 90 days’ house arrest he was under after pleading guilty to four counts following a crash in November in which four people, including a pregnant woman, were injured. He was also sentenced to three years of probation, and 200 hours of community service.
Gervonta Davis To Fight Frank Martin | FIGHT SPORTS

Martin, also 29, fights out of the same gym as the also-Derrick James-trained Garcia, who next fights Devin Haney for Haney’s WBC super lightweight title at New York’s Barclays Center on April 20. Martin had previously been on course to fight Shakur Stevenson for the WBC lightweight title. Stevenson is perhaps Davis’ biggest rival at 135lbs.

One of boxing’s biggest names could be set for a return to the ring in the first half of the year.

Gervonta Davis (29-0) hasn’t fought since stopping Ryan Garcia last April but, with legal issues now seemingly behind him, “Tank” has been linked with several opponents.

According to ESPN’s Mike Coppinger, an agreement has been reached with the 29-year-old’s next opponent.

The fight, which would see Davis’ WBA lightweight title go on the line, shapes as one of his toughest yet.

READ MORE ;Gervonta Davis leaks email showing exact amount Eddie Hearn offered him for Conor Benn fight

Davis has been criticized in the past for not testing himself against the best in the division, but Martin represents a stern challenge, in his prime at 29 and ranked sixth by The Ring and second by the WBC.

Coppinger reports the fight would be broadcast as a pay-per-view on Prime Video, as part of Amazon’s agreement with PBC.

Gervonta Davis To Fight Frank Martin | FIGHT SPORTS

No venue or location has been reported as yet.

Why hasn’t Gervonta Davis been fighting?

Like many fighters in Al Haymon’s stable, Davis hasn’t always been the most active.

In this case, rather than boxing politics being to blame, Davis has been unable to fight due to legal reasons.

RELATED ;Gervonta Davis agrees deal to next fight fellow unbeaten American Frank Martin, who was accused of ‘ducking’ Shakur Stevenson

Following his win over Garcia, Davis was sentenced to 90 days jail for breaching the terms of a house arrest stemming back to a 2020 hit-and-run incident.

Gervonta Davis Set To Fight Frank Martin In Next Fight

Just last week, Davis took to social media with a photo of his legs, alluding to the fact he was no longer sporting an ankle monitor he’d been forced to wear.

UPDATE ;Eddie Hearn says Gervonta Davis turned down lucrative offer to face Conor Benn

Many took that to mean Davis was now free to resume full training and a fight was potentially around the corner.