Home Columns Mike Tyson: Haney and Stevenson the ‘only’ threats to Tank Davis

Mike Tyson: Haney and Stevenson the ‘only’ threats to Tank Davis

Tyson declares Davis as face of boxing

Mike Tyson says Gervonta Davis' biggest threats are Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images/Chris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions/Ed Mulholland/Matchroom
Mike Tyson says Gervonta Davis' biggest threats are Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank via Getty Images/Chris Esqueda/Golden Boy Promotions/Ed Mulholland/Matchroom

Mike Tyson believes Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson represent the “only” threats to Gervonta Davis, who he says is the face of the sport.

Tyson was part of a star-studded celebrity line-up ringside at the T-Mobile Arena to witness Davis knockout Ryan Garcia in the seventh round of their highly-anticipated fight in Las Vegas last month.

‘Tank’ extended his unbeaten streak 29 straight victories and declared himself as the face of boxing in his post-fight interview, an assertion ‘Iron Mike’ supports.

“He is truly right, he is the face of boxing,” Tyson told Pro Wrestling Bits.

“But that’s because Ryan Garcia is the draw.

Davis knocked out Garcia in the seventh round of their super fight Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Davis knocked out Garcia in the seventh round of their super fight Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

“And that makes [Garcia] the face of boxing because of the amount of people that he fills in an arena. 

“Since that fight, Ryan Garcia fans will turn into Tank’s fans, and [Davis] is going to have the biggest drawing power, I believe.

“Ryan brought those people out, and normally when the draw gets beaten, like Ryan, when he gets beaten, the people that were his fans are now Tank’s fans.”

Tyson at the weigh in for Davis vs Garcia Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME
Tyson at the weigh in for Davis vs Garcia Photo Credit: Esther Lin/SHOWTIME

Davis is not short of options and could target the winner of the May 20 showdown between undisputed lightweight champion, Devin Haney and Vasiliy Lomachenko or a meeting with two-division champion, Shakur Stevenson who stopped Shuichiro Yoshino on his lightweight bow last month.

Former undisputed heavyweight champion, Tyson insists that Haney and Stevenson could be the difference between Davis ending his career undefeated.

Haney defends his undisputed lightweight crown against Lomachenko on May 20 Photo Credit: Top Rank
Haney defends his undisputed lightweight crown against Lomachenko on May 20 Photo Credit: Top Rank

“It’s a great possibility [that Tank Davis could go undefeated his whole career],” the 56-year-old added.

“But then you’ve got Devin Haney and Shakur.

“Those guys, they’re very good. Those are the only two guys who are possibly a threat to him.

Shakur Stevenson stopped Shuichiro Yoshino in the sixth round in Newark Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Shakur Stevenson stopped Shuichiro Yoshino in the sixth round in Newark Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“I know they’ve boxed before, and some people got the advantage over others in sparring, but sparring’s not like fighting.

“For some reason, people don’t fight as hard as they spar, or some people don’t train as hard as they fight, it’s just a strange dynamic in that.”