Boxers often use the word retirement with a double meaning, at least in recent times, in which an eventual exit from the ring can create or help to fuel certain narratives focused on generating expectation around specific fights or strategies to remain in the media spotlight.
A strategy even Mayweather used
In the case of Gervonta Davis, many people think that talking about retirement at 30 years of age and with so much future ahead of him is not only premature, but an absolute nonsense, especially as several fighters are in line to fight him, including Shakur Stevenson, who showed his anger at the news that Tank plans to hang up his gloves when he finishes in 2025. He told FightHubTV: “If he wants to retire with the career he has, go ahead and do what you have to do. I don’t agree with that. I think that’s soft!“
According to Honduran-born American boxer Teofimo Lopez, Gervonta’s move has nothing to do with a true retirement and he therefore criticized Stevenson and his reckless statements: “I think it’s to keep everyone on their toes. You know, like we are, everybody’s talking about it (…) it’s a strategy that I’ve used myself, it’s a strategy that (Tyson) Fury is using right now.”
Everyone wants to fight Gervonta
What is a fact is that Gervonta Davis’ words have focused the eyes and the conversation on the 140-pound division, in which all the fighters who are waiting for a chance with Tank have not remained oblivious to the bickering.
Lopez acknowledged to FightHubTV that even Floyd Mayweather used the same strategy in his time in order to fuel media interest in his fights, something that Gervonta seems to have learned well, who remains unbeaten and with a great punch with his 28 knockouts in 30 victories.