Coach Barry Hunter says he wants a fight between Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue at a catchweight “in the middle.” Hunter states that Tank (30-0, 28 KOs) would move down in weight to face Inoue (29-0, 26 KOs), who would have to come up from 122, perhaps to 130 to make it possible.
It’s only eight pounds that Inoue would need to move up for a mega-fight with Tank Davis to be a reality. Would he? The Japanese superstar Naoya has been reluctant to move up to 126 to face the sharks in that division.
Middle Ground
Tank Davis would be sacrificing a lot more by dropping down five or more lbs to fight at a catchweight of 130 or 128 than Inoue would in moving up six to eight lbs. It’s a lot easier for fighters to move up in weight than to drop down.
If Inoue hesitates to go up a mere four lbs from super bantamweight to featherweight, would he have the courage to go up eight lbs to 130? It requires bravery for a fighter to move out of their comfort zone. Inoue has it very easy during his professional career, feasting on the weak opposition at 122, 118, 115 and 108.
Barren Resume
Naoya’s resume is barren of name fighters in those weight classes, yet he’s made millions from his wins against fighters in those talent-less divisions. He hasn’t fought the true talent at 115, Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, and it doesn’t look like he ever will.
“As a boxing fan, I would like to see Inoue,” said coach Barry Hunter to Fighthype when asked who he would like for Gervonta Davis to fight next. “Yes, or we meet somewhere in the middle. The reason why he [Naoya] was named ‘The Monster’ for a reason,” said Hunter about whether he would like for Inoue to move up to 135 to face Davis.
“I’m a fan, but nevertheless, he’s [Inoue] explosive, he’s skillful, and I think that’s somebody that would challenge what we do. You do realize that Tank is easily not a real 140 or 135-pounder. He’s a small guy. He’s just as explosive as hell, and makes him look bigger than what he is.
“Nevertheless, he can make that weight. Loma, I love, based on skills,” said Hunter when asked who he would like for Tank Davis to fight at 135. “Keyshawn, I’m cool with that, too. I don’t care. Whatever, whoever, we confident in it.”
Last Updated on 02/27/2025