Gervonta Davis continued his knockout streak on Saturday night.
‘Tank’s’ stunning eighth-round stoppage win over Frank Martin to retain his WBA lightweight world title marked his 28th knockout in 30 professional fights.
Davis’ 93.3 per cent knockout ratio is the second-best in the sport for an active world champion, with only Artur Beterbiev (100 per cent) ranking ahead of him.
But there was further reason to celebrate for the Baltimore banger in the immediate aftermath of his last outing as he has now surpassed his former mentor Floyd Mayweather for career knockout wins.
While Davis has 28 KOs to his name, Mayweather could only manage 27 during his illustrious 50-0 career.
The last of those came in his final pro fight with Conor McGregor in 2017 to break a six-year decision streak.
Mayweather had a solid dig on him during his days as a super-featherweight, lightweight and super-lightweight.
But when he moved further up in weight he sacrificed size and therefore stopping power.
At welterweight and super-welterweight it was his supreme defence and expert counterpunching that won him fights over the distance.
Davis – who was promoted and managed by Mayweather for several years before their acrimonious split in 2022 – has adopted many of ‘TBE’s’ defensive traits.
Meanwhile, he also has the one-punch knockout power to make him one of the most complete fighters in boxing today.
Although he has proved to be a bigger puncher than Mayweather, he will have to get a move on if he hopes to surpass ‘Money’s’ legacy.
The 29-year-old is a two-weight world champion and has never held more than one belt at the same weight simultaneously.
In stark contrast, Mayweather won world titles in five weight classes, was a unified belt holder in two of them, and a lineal champion in four.
Since parting ways two years ago, Mayweather and Davis have been embroiled in a bitter feud.
Ahead of his fight with Ryan Garcia last year, Davis accused Mayweather of kicking him out of the Mayweather gym.
