Gervonta Davis kicked off 2023 in impressive fashion Saturday night.
Davis scored a ninth round finish vs. Hector Luis Garcia in the main event live on Showtime PPV. The event, held under the Premier Boxing Champions banner, took place from Washington, D.C.
“I was a little surprised he didn’t come out,” Davis said. “But I knew he was hurt bad but he’s a fighter and he didn’t want to show it. I knew he was hurt though.”
The Baltimore-native Davis delighted the 19,731 fans in attendance as he methodically broke down the previously unbeaten Garcia, before hurting him badly with his vaunted left hand late in the eighth round. Visibly shaken on his way back to the corner, Garcia stayed on his stool as the bell for round nine rang.
Moments later, his trainer Bob Santos advised referee Albert Earl Brown to stop the fight, with the official stoppage coming 13 seconds into round nine.
“When I got the shot to my head in the final round, that’s when I couldn’t see from my eye,” said Garcia, who owns the WBA Super Featherweight World Title. “I didn’t know where I was when he hit me with that shot. My vision is back but my head still hurts. I couldn’t see from my right eye. It was going well up until that point. I was picking my shots.”
Jaron Ennis claimed the interim IBF welterweight title with a decision victory over Karen Chukhadzhian in the co-main event.
“I learned to just take my time and to not rush anything,” said Ennis. “I’m glad I went 12 rounds. It felt great. I felt I was in the best shape. I just needed to throw a little more punches. I should have got him out of there.”
In other action, Roiman Villa defeated Rashidi Ellis and Demetrius Andrade remained unbeaten with a win over Demond Nicholson.