Renowned trainer Robert Garcia has called on Gervonta "Tank" Davis to take a step up and face Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela at 140 pounds without a rehydration clause.
Garcia, who trains Valenzuela, believes Davis should seize this opportunity to fight top-tier opponents at 135 or 140, challenging himself to unify titles and elevate his career. "If Tank is calling champions out, well, go fight [Rayo] at 140 and don't put no rehydration clause, just go fight him," Garcia told Fight Hype. He emphasized the importance of fighters taking control of their matchups rather than letting others dictate their career paths.
There was a previous offer for Valenzuela to face Davis on November 2, but the timing didn’t work for Valenzuela’s team. "He was in training camp for like five months, so he needed some time off," Garcia explained, noting that Valenzuela had just claimed a title at 140 in August, making a quick turnaround unrealistic.
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Garcia believes a Davis-Valenzuela matchup would be compelling: "They both have a challenge for each other. They're both champions – one at 135 and the other at 140." While praising Davis' star power and ability to draw large pay-per-view numbers, Garcia wants to see him take on bigger challenges and make bold moves in his career.
With the potential Davis-Roach bout drawing criticism as less intriguing, Garcia's proposition could generate significant fan interest and set the stage for an exciting clash in 2025.
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