LAS VEGAS – Gervonta Davis and Frank Martin spoke to one another constantly through today’s final press conference ahead of their fight on Saturday (June 15).
Davis did not attend yesterday’s Grand Arrivals, but was still sat talking to the media more than half an hour after the presser had ended today.
At no point did their quarrelling look like escalating, but with the event starting 30 minutes after the advertised time, the two niggled away at one another, with Davis only remotely biting when they were asked about their now infamous spar from several years ago.
Martin said he “clipped” Davis, who took exception to that.
“I promise you I’m going to break you up,” said Davis.
At the head-to-head afterwards, they continued jaw-jacking, with Davis continuing, “I’m going to step on you,” and Martin replying, “I’m going to step over you.”
“We were just talking shit,” said Martin. “It can go however he wants to go, if he act up y’all gonna see him get knocked out. If he come in, acts crazy he’s going to sleep.”
Davis merely promised “an ass whoopin’.”
Davis’ trainer, Calvin Ford, implored Martin to “push the buttons of his fighter” so he brings out the best in him.
“Look at him,” said Ford. “I see this, he’s pushing forwards to where he’s supposed to be. Martin is here for a reason. I understand that. Derrick [James] understands that. [Errol] Spence understands that. He’s here for a reason and I want him to push the buttons, because I haven’t seen the real Tank yet. This camp is totally different. He’s mentally different.”
In the opposite corner, Derrick James said of the arguing: “You’ve got to be able to use that fuel for fire. We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t believe in ourselves. We will see Frank come out and be the best version of himself… Follow the gameplan, follow the strategy and go out there and be phenomenal.”
Promoter Leonard Ellerbe, addressing the level jump in level of competition Martin is facing, said: “You can’t skip steps, and you get that over a period of time. Frank’s a good fighter, but there’s a difference between being good and special.”
Read the full article here
