Gervonta Davis Will Defend WBA Lightweight Title Against Frank Martin

June 14, 2024

3 weeks

Gervonta Davis doesn’t have to worry about defending the World Boxing Association (Super) lightweight title anymore. Davis held the secondary belt and made four defenses between 2018 and 2022. But with the WBA being ordered to reduce the number of championships it has, online boxing news shows that WBA promoted Davis to undisputed champion when Devin Haney chose to move to super lightweight.

Davis is returning to the ring after a year off following his seventh-round stoppage of Ryan Garcia. This time around, Davis will have a stiff challenge when he meets Frank Martin on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Martin has yet to capture a world title. He is an undefeated southpaw who has shown some power in his hands. However, Martin has seen his last two fights end in a decision.

Here’s a look at how to bet the card.

Can Martin Match Davis’ Power?

Gervonta-Davis-Frank-Martin - Boxing News

Martin has yet to break through to the top tier in boxing. Making the leap from ranked contender to world champion isn’t a step that many fighters are capable of making. The latest trending boxing news shows that Martin will have his hands full with Davis.

While Davis has been kept away from the ring due to legal issues, there is no mistaking the dynamite in his hands. Davis has finished 27 of his 29 career victories by knockout. Martin has displayed some power but isn’t nearly the knockout artist that Davis is.

Martin has finished 12 of his 18 wins by knockout. He picked up an impressive win over a strong opponent with a good pedigree during his last fight. Martin went the distance with 2016 Olympics bronze medalist Artem Harutyunyan and scored a unanimous decision victory.

Martin hopes that showing he can go the distance will allow him to lean on his cardio and make Davis work throughout the fight.

How to Bet the Main Event

Davis is priced as a -700 favorite in this fight. Martin is +475 to win. The over/under has been set at 9.5 rounds. Davis is -180 to win by knockout, while he has been priced at +260 to win by decision or technical decision.

Martin is +1400 to win by knockout, while he is +700 to win by decision. This is a big opportunity for Martin. Beating a fighter of Davis’ caliber in his first world title opportunity would be big for building his brand.

However, Davis didn’t earn his reputation by letting these types of opportunities slip away. Davis is a patience fighter and isn’t afraid to work on setting up feints and working the body to capitalize on that later. Expect Davis to wear down Martin and score a late stoppage.

Bets to consider: Davis by KO, Under 9.5 rounds.

Benavidez Has Big Dreams for Future

David Benavidez will take on Oleksandr Gvozdyk for the WBC interim light heavyweight title this weekend. But Benavidez already has his eyes down the road toward a possible superfight with Dmitry Bivol. Could that be a mistake for Benavidez?

Gvozdyk, 37, is the former WBC light heavyweight champion who lost his title in 2019 when he attempted to add the IBF organization’s belt around his waist. After that loss, Gvozdyk took four years off before training to fight in February 2023.

While Gvozdyk has won three consecutive fights, he wasn’t fighting the same type of competition as he was before the pandemic. Benavidez hasn’t been defeated during his career.

He is the current WBC interim super middleweight champion. During his career, Benavidez has kept his foot on the gas. He has won 24 of his 28 career victories by knockout.

As long as he is focused on his opponent this weekend, he should be able to add another title to his collection and open himself up for other big opportunities down the line.

Bets to consider: Under 9.5 rounds (-135), Benavidez by KO/TKO/DQ (-190)

Former Olympian Chases Gold

Gary Antuanne Russell represented the United States during the 2016 Olympics but wasn’t able to reach the medal round. The Maryland native is hoping to make his professional career more colorful when he takes on Alberto Puello for the interim WBC super lightweight title. While Russell has won his first 17 professional bouts, he has yet to fight for a world championship.

Russell has always been a finisher, collecting his victories by knockout. But fighting for a championship is another challenge entirely. Russell has never been in a 12-round fight and will need to manage his gas tank in order to handle the new challenge.

Puello, meanwhile, claimed the WBA super lightweight title back in 2022 when he beat Batyr Akhmedov by split decision. Puello is 22-0 and isn’t someone who leans on power to win fights. He has seen 12 of his career fights go the distance.

Despite Puello being the more experienced fighter, Russell is a -700 favorite to win the bout. Puello is +475. This fight has been priced like it will reach the championship round, as over 9.5 is at -135. Neither man has ever been knocked out by a professional.

This one may not go the distance, but it should reach the later rounds.

Bets to consider: Over 9.5 rounds.

Here are quick picks on the rest of the fights not mentioned above: