Bradley turned that same challenge toward Davis. “Right now you losing, player, you losing,” he said. “Take that chance, man. Take that risk.”
The former two-division champion argued that Davis has already proven he belongs at the highest tier. He pointed to Davis’ knockout wins over Ryan Garcia, Mario Barrios, and Rolando Romero, reminders that Davis has dispatched opponents who continue to headline major events without him.
“Guess who knocked his ass out?” Bradley said of Garcia. “Tank Davis.”
The former ESPN analyst stressed that the issue is not ability but ambition. In his view, a fully committed Davis would “turn this game upside down.” What frustrates him is the absence of sustained appearances against the most dangerous names at lightweight and junior welterweight, divisions that include Shakur Stevenson and Vasyl Lomachenko.
Bradley’s appeal, however, runs into a longer-standing reality. Since moving to lightweight in 2019, Davis has not consistently pursued the most difficult available opponents. His schedule has largely featured carefully selected matchups rather than extended stretches against the division’s deepest competition. Discussions about a fight with Stevenson never progressed, and other rising contenders such as Floyd Schofield have remained outside his path.
Gervonta’s recent majority draw against Lamont Roach, which included a debated sequence involving a knee touch and a brief timeout over hair grease, intensified questions about focus and preparation after stretches of inactivity.
A sudden shift in approach would run against everything Davis has shown since entering the division. His matchmaking has followed a steady pattern that has produced wins and significant revenue, but not the kind of repeated high-end tests Bradley is calling for. Bradley’s message is blunt: punching power and selective dominance are not the same as sustained elite competition, and the difference will ultimately determine how Davis is remembered.
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