Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has hit out at Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis for leaking private emails regarding a potential big money fight against Conor Benn.

Davis and Benn were recently embroiled in a war of words on social media, with the two men insisting they were more than happy to face one another.

That led to Hearn submitting an offer to ‘Tank’ for the fight, but rather than accept, the American instead looks set to face Frank Martin, and chose to post a photo of the email from the Matchroom chief on social media.

Hearn has now had his say on the matter whilst speaking to Boxing Social, and was less than impressed with the behaviour on display.

Davis heads into the fight with Martin on the back of his destructive outing against Ryan Garcia last April, where he earned the stoppage in the seventh round following a sickening body shot.

As for Benn, it is still unknown who his next opponent will be, as he awaits the hearing of the outcome of the appeal by the British Boxing Board of Control regarding his failed tests.

It usually takes an eye-catching breakout performance or a spectacular knockout to catapult an unproven fighter into contention for a fight with one of the sport’s biggest names.

As we are constantly reminded however, boxing is a business and money can always create exceptions to the rule.

Smelling blood in the water after Conor Benn’s tougher than expected decision victory over ‘Pistol’ Pete Dobson on February 3rd, some of boxing’s apex predators began circling the unbeaten welterweight. Attracted by the scent of seemingly straight forward and lucrative night’s work.

So far, only Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis has shown any real interest in the bait on offer and Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is doing his best to hook him.

“We’ve made Tank an offer. It’s a big offer and there’s a lot of upside on pay-per-view and gate that I think he needs to explore as well,” Hearn told IFL.

“It’s not really a fight that I anticipated but I think it’s a fight that can happen and I think if we can just be sensible and sit down and talk through numbers, I think there’s enough money in the pot to keep everybody happy.”

On the face of it, the fight makes little sense but there are definite reasons why it would appeal to both boxers.

Davis needs to fight. The WBA lightweight champion hasn’t been seen since knocking out Ryan Garcia in seven rounds last April. Davis has grown accustomed to large paydays and big events and there appears little chance of him fighting any of the top 135lb fighters in the world any time soon. A fight with Benn may just provide him with the attention and financial reward he craves.

Benn also seems desperate to bypass a few levels of competition and jump in straight with a world class operator. From the Londoner’s point of view, of all the names who have entered his orbit recently, the Baltimore man is the most explosive and eye catching but – maybe most importantly – he is also by far the smallest.

Devin Haney certainly didn’t look like a small super lightweight when he stepped up to 140lbs and relieved Regis Prograis of his WBC title last December. If anything, the former undisputed lightweight champion looked like he will soon be a natural welterweight. Haney has agreed to fight Ryan Garcia on April 20th in any case.

Kell Brook would certainly be open to a lucrative offer but the retired former welterweight champion struggled badly to make 147lbs towards the end of his career and seems more suited to the middleweight division these days. The same could be said of Errol Spence Jnr. The former unified welterweight champion looked a shadow of himself during his undisputed 147lb clash with Terence Crawford and if he does continue to fight after his recent eye operation, he would be wise to do so at 154lbs or above

Chris Eubank Jnr will always remain an option and although he may lack the all round ability of the above names he does remain a world class fighter at 160lbs or above.

Benn apparently rehydrated to 170lbs before his fight with Dobson and if he is determined to take a monumental gamble, it makes sense to target a fighter that he would at least hold a size advantage over. Davis did stop Mario Barrios at 140lbs to win the WBA title – Barrios is another fighter Benn has mentioned – but is much more at home at 135lbs.

Last July, the National Anti-Doping agency issued a ruling that lifted Benn’s suspension after he returned two positive tests ahead of his fight with Eubank Jnr, scheduled for October 2022. The British Boxing Board of Control and UKAD appealed that decision. That appeal should finally should be heard this month and if Benn is given the green light to resume his career on these shores, the income generated by a return to a British arena or stadium would open up plenty of possibilities.

“Conor loves the fight. He’s been on at me nonstop since he’s been at him on social media asking me to make the fight and we’ll see where we get to this week,” Hearn said.

“He’s gonna be in a massive fight next. We’ve got the case coming up in a couple of weeks and once that’s dealt with, that’ll allow us to see much more clearly in terms of where he’s gonna fight and who he’s gonna fight. Conor has to be in a massive fight next and Tank is one of the biggest fights in the world.

“Every fight involving Conor Benn is a big one and it has to be a name next.”

Gervonta Davis will enter his next title fight as an Islamic fighter.

To the surprise of many, fellow professional boxer Badou Jack posted a video on X. On December. 24, the social media post regarding the conversion of the WBA lightweight champion began grabbing attention. The post was met with warm replies, as most of the Islamic community welcomed Davis with open arms.

Amongst many others, Jack congratulated the champion in the caption with the common Arabic phrase ‘Alhamdulillah,’ translated in English to ‘all glory to God.’

With most of the comments praising and welcoming him, a sub-section of the community also ridiculed the American’s for the decision. Some claimed that his personality would not be a good fit, while others called his conversion an attempt to be like former lightweight champion Devin Haney.

Amongst those pleased to hear the news included UFC welterweight Belal Muhammad. He tweeted about his acceptance of the boxer.

Many fans also commented traditional Arabic phrases. One fan wrote:

In a surprising twist, boxing’s landscape shifts as Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis gears up for a groundbreaking event. March 2024 marks a pivotal moment. PBC’s first pay-per-view on Amazon Prime Video features him. But the intrigue lies not just in the platform switch. It’s the mystery shrouding his opponent that’s stirring the pot.

Is Gervonta Davis to Prime the same as Floyd to Showtime?

In the heart of the boxing community’s current discourse, Michael Benson’s tweet, citing Mike Coppinger, an ESPN Boxing insider sets the stage: “Gervonta Davis reportedly could headline PBC’s first Amazon Prime Video PPV in March.” This announcement alone has sparked a flurry of reactions, each unique in its anticipation and perspective.

Firstly, one fan draws a parallel between Davis’ move to Prime and Floyd Mayweather’s iconic shift to Showtime. This comparison suggests a monumental impact on the platform’s boxing content.

Meanwhile, one fan voices a plea for new blood in the ring, expressing a clear disinterest in a rematch with Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. This sentiment reflects a desire among fans for fresh and compelling matchups, rather than revisiting past bouts.

On the other hand, one fan proposes a dream fight – Shakur Stevenson versus Gervonta Davis

Lastly, another person throws another name into the mix, hoping for Frank Martin to be Davis’ opponent. This suggestion adds to the diverse array of possibilities fans are considering, indicating the wide interest in seeing different styles and talents clash against Davis.

A rematch brewing

The riveting rivalry between Isaac Cruz and Gervonta Davis harks back to their 2012 clash, a bout that defied expectations. In the iconic Staples Center, Cruz stepped in as a late substitute, challenging Davis, a star under Floyd Mayweather’s tutelage, known for his knockout prowess. Their encounter turned into a grueling 12-round battle, far from the predicted easy win for Davis. Ultimately, Davis eked out a unanimous decision, but the fight’s closeness revealed the intensity of their matchup.

Recently reigniting this rivalry, Davis took to Instagram with a taunting remark, suggesting his victory was effortless despite using only “one hand.” This brewing tension hints at a highly anticipated rematch, where both fighters will look to settle their unfinished business