To the folks ruffled by the career of Gervonta Davis

Don't be. Gervonta isn't the first to walk this path and he certainly will not be the last. This is becoming more common in boxing, as the means of promotion has changed dramatically in the past decade. The reality of the sport we watch is that it's show biz, and the career of every fighter exists somewhere on a spectrum between Jake Paul and two time Olympic Gold Medalist.

Some fighters want to maximize earnings, put meat in the seats, and create hype, and others care about nothing more than being the best. Fighters like Gervonta live in the former, and that's okay. Folks paying attention to the sport understand that Davis might not even realistically be in the top 3 of his division. Who cares? He's creating a spectacle for casual and hardcore fans alike.

The issue for most people is the casual fan anointing Davis as a pound for pound fighter. This is understandably frustrating, but it's ultimately not a big deal. There were MMA fans that actually thought McGregor could beat Floyd. There were Canelo fans that thought he could compete with Usyk. This type of fan is on the Jake Paul side of things and you've just got to accept it as part of the boxing world.

Again, none of this is new. Wilder did the same thing. Calzaghe did the same thing. If Davis decides to challenge himself, I'll be watching. If he wants to keep crushing cans while looking vulnerable, I'll watch that too. Anyone, and I mean anyone, who can pack a stadium and get boxing trending on twitter for hours is good for the sport. It brings more eyes and more money to the fighters on the other side who are carving out legacies.

 

It increases the number of boxers, increases the money, should increase competition. Something obscure like kickboxing has a fraction of the talent pool because the number of fans is so low.

 

More prizes more prize fighters? I have no proof, only speculation. I'm not a fookin accountant.

 

It seems logical. A rising tide lifts all boats. I've got no numbers for you, but I believe what I've said is true. More eyes on boxing could put pressure on the US to build a better amateur program.