Tank Seals Incredible Saturday of Fights
Saturday, April 23rd, marked one of the best days of boxing, likely the best day of boxing this calendar year. It concluded with a vicious one-punch knockout to the liver of Ryan Garcia. 28-year-old Tank Davis moved his record to 29-0 (27) and picked up the most prolific win of his career. Davis scored his third straight stoppage since Isaac Cruz was able to go the distance in late 2021. Davis scored with a lightning-quick counter left hand that dropped Garcia. King Ry, got to his feet and seemed unphased physically but mentally was a different fighter. He became less aggressive and took fewer risks after tasting the power of Davis. The Baltimore native was able to score with counter shots and was firing a few more shots than is typical for him in the early rounds. Garcia worked off a jab and had occasional success with a left hook and right hand, but Davis was in control of the fight. Davis finally got to his man and scored with the thudding left hook that sealed the deal.
On the evening's co-main, David Morrell of Santa Clara, Cuba, moved his record to 9-0 (8) in devastating fashion. Morrell's right hand was far too much for an outmatched Yamaguchi Falcao. The Cuban rocked Falcao with a right hand that sent him stumbling across the ring. Moments later a second right hand put down a dazed Falcao for the first time. Falcao got to his feet, but Morrell jumped on his hurt opponent like a dog on fear and spectacularly sealed the deal. A right hand sent Falcao face-first into the canvas for a second and final time. The bout was waived off immediately at 2:21 of the opening stanza.
On the other major card and the only card with a world title fight on it, Joe Cordina of Cardiff, Wales, became a two-time super featherweight world champion. Winning back the IBF belt that was rightfully his and should have never been stripped from him. Cordina won his world title in June and was stripped of it in October for breaking his hand. Cordina got off to a great start and dropped Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov in round two with a right hand. Rakhimov is known for his frantic work rate and lived up to the reputation. However, the Welshman was able to match his opponent. Cordina boxed beautifully from all three ranges. He moved off the back foot well and held his own on the inside. Landing beautiful straight right hands that would stop his opponent in his tracks. Rakhimov stayed aggressive and didn't allow Cordina to get comfortable. His work rate began to wear his opponent down. However, Cordina kept answering with counter right hand. Rakhimov, battled till the end and rallied with a barrage late in the final round. However, it proved to be too little too late. As the judges got it right and scored narrowly for the Welshman by scores of 114-113 and 115-112 in his favor and an egregious 116-111 in favor of Rakhimov.
On the undercard, Gavin Gwynne put on a spectacular performance and set the record straight with Craig Woodruff. Gwynne had to settle for a draw with Woodruff back in September. If Gwynne was guilty of fighting down to the level of competition in the first fight, he was not about to repeat that mistake in the second go around. After a competitive first few rounds Gwynne of Treharris, Wales put the pedal to the metal and blew woodruff away. In a fight where Gwynne seemed to be taking competitive rounds quickly became uncompetitive. Cordina drilled Woodruff into the ropes and had his man badly hurt. Woodruff dropped his hands, and the Welshman unloaded a barrage of power shots to end the fourth. The fifth picked up where the previous round left off. Gwynne continued to apply pressure as Woodruff was again backed into the ropes. The Welshman again unleashed on him and rendered Woodruff helpless, and unable to answer. Prompting the referee to step in and save Woodruff from any additional punishment.
