Errol Spence Jr. is throwing his full support behind his fighter, Frank Martin (18-0, 12 KOs), as he prepares to challenge WBA ‘regular’ lightweight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis (29-0, 15 KOs) on June 15th. The fight will headline a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The switch in opponents for Martin came after Jose Enrique Vivas withdrew due to visa issues, with Panamanian power puncher Brayan De Gracia stepping in for the co-feature bout. Despite fan skepticism, largely due to Martin’s struggle in his last fight against Artem Harutyunyan, Spence believes in Martin’s power and determination to topple the Baltimore native, who has been enjoying the accolades from his knockout victory over Ryan Garcia.
Tank Davis, who has been out of the ring for 14 months, faces uncertainty in how he will perform against Martin. Spence is banking on Martin’s aggressive style and fast pace to build an early lead against Davis, who is known for starting slow.
“I see him getting his hand raised. I feel he’s the most skilled, talented fighter that Tank ever fought,” Spence declared during an Instagram Live session. He emphasized that Davis cannot afford to take the early rounds off and hope for a late knockout, as Martin plans to dominate from the first round to the last.
Martin’s strategy will focus on volume punching and power shots to exploit Davis’s vulnerability to high-output fighters. However, concerns remain about Martin’s lower work rate and tendency to load up on punches. Spence’s strategy of pushing Martin to start strong may be tested once he experiences Davis’s power firsthand.
Spence’s confidence in Martin extends beyond this fight, hinting at a potential rematch should Martin secure the victory. “He’s the best at 135 lbs, and he’s going to prove that against Tank Davis,” said Spence. “When he wins, there’s got to be a rematch. Shakur has to wait.”
While Martin’s lackluster performance against Harutyunyan has dampened some fans’ expectations, Spence remains steadfast in his belief that Martin will shine on June 15th and potentially set the stage for a blockbuster rematch.