Andres Cortes Thinks Speed Will Be Key for Gervonta Davis

Junior lightweight contender Andres Cortes favors Gervonta “Tank” Davis to defeat Frank Martin, even predicting that Davis will win via knockout.

Cortes will fight Abraham Nova on June 21 at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas in a 10-round bout, while Davis is set to face Martin on pay-per-view Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Cortes (21-0, 12 KOs), who sparred with Davis as an amateur, was initially signed by Mayweather Promotions on the same roster as Davis.

Cortes joined Top Rank in March 2022 and has had five fights since, with his sixth bout scheduled.

“I think Tank knocks him out,” said Cortes, 26, a Las Vegas native. “I know the fight will have its difficult moments, but I think Tank definitely knocks him out.”

Cortes elaborated on what he believes gives Davis an edge.

“I think his fight IQ and the fact that a guy like Frank Martin hasn’t really had those big fights plays a big role when you’re stepping up against the best guy in your division,” Cortes said.

“To be honest, it is just his speed. People don’t see it because you have to get in there with him. But his speed is definitely different. It’s not so much the power, but his speed and his IQ are definitely different.”

Reflecting on his own experience with Davis, now regarded as one of the best fighters in the world, Cortes noted Davis had significantly more experience at the time.

“When I was in there with him, it was a long time ago, so it’s hard to remember, but it was solid work,” Cortes said. “He never really hurt me like that. But I was still an amateur, with no professional experience, and I think he was already a 10-round fighter.”