Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis has been given the green lightweight to travel outside the United States to Paris, France, to advise Team USA boxers for the Olympics. Tank Davis is still on probation from a 2020 conviction for a hit-and-run, so he needed permission to leave the U.S.
Davis, 29, has been invited by Team USA to advise their fighters, many of whom look up to him and would appreciate his help in this important competition. Tank will reportedly be in France from July 19th to August 12th.
Tank’s fighting style of giving away rounds and then coming back to score a one-punch knockout wouldn’t work for amateurs because they can’t afford to give away three rounds and hope for a knockout. The men’s competition in the Olympics is three rounds, and they’ve got to press from the opening bell to get the win.
“Given his status amongst the world’s best boxers, Mr. Davis would be a key asset in motivating and supporting our team to achieve Olympic greatness and become the number one nation in the world at this year’s Olympic Games,” Matt Johnson, high-performance director for USA Boxing, wrote in a June 26 letter to Handy,” to the Baltimore Banner.
They’re forced to work hard the entire fight and can’t count on [ulling the victory out with a fight-saving knockout late. Fighters like Tank Davis wouldn’t do well in Olympic competitions without changing his style because he couldn’t afford to be lackadaisical.
It’ll be interesting to see how Gervonta will affect the young Team USA fighters by mentoring them and giving them guidance. Tank’s power game is more suited to the pro ranks, and it’s unclear what impact he could have on the fighters.
Amateur boxing is an entirely different sport from the pro game. It’s like comparing badminton to tennis. The pro game involves power punching, landing hard, meaningful shots, and looking for knockouts. Amateur fighting is like fencing, with fighters looking to land scoring shots.
The rules are stricter in amateur boxing, where fighters can’t get away with fouling and excessive clinching like in the pros.
Last Updated on 07/17/2024
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