EXCLUSIVE: Carlos Takam Picks Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta Davis as the Face of Boxing

Who truly reigns as boxing’s supreme icon? Armand Carlos Netsing Takam, who once represented Cameroon in the 2004 Olympics, voices his verdict, but with an unexpected twist. Imagine selecting not one, but two faces of boxing. Canelo Alvarez, the Mexican maestro, boasts a staggering 60-2-2 record, shimmering with world titles across four weight classes.

Enter Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, the dynamo, who once KOed Ryan Garcia and is now preparing to fight Frank Martin. Why this duo? And why not Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Takam’s choice defies the usual one-champion narrative, stirring curiosity. What makes them stand out in his eyes?

In the heart of a heated debate over boxing’s leading figure, Carlos Takam, the 40-8 fighter, delivered his verdict with confidence. In an exclusive interview with EssentiallySports’ Sahil Sood hosted by Press Box PR, Sood probed, “There’s an ongoing debate in the boxing world regarding who deserves the title of face of boxing. Possible contenders are Canelo, Gervonta Davis, and Terence Crawford. Who do you think among these fighters deserve to be the face of the sport?”

Takam’s response was both decisive and enlightening. “Canelo. I’m going to pick two, Canelo and Davis,” he stated, initially placing Alvarez at the forefront. However, he quickly nuanced his stance, “Well, I want to say, I want to pick Davis first and Canelo second.”

Diving into his rationale, Takam highlighted Canelo Alvarez’s exceptional boxing prowess, reflected in his thoughtful admiration of the Mexican champion. “One, I pick Canelo because that guy is a really great boxer, you know, he’s a good boxer. And then I think he was so good that time, when they put him against Mayweather. But that fight, I think it was too soon to put him against Mayweather. Canelo won that fight, not the fight, but the experience, you know. He learned many things about that fight with Mayweather. And he’s a good fighter. You know, when you see Canelo fight, people enjoy when they see Canelo fight.”

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His commentary not only shed light on Alvarez’s storied career but also underscored the respect he holds for Gervonta Davis. Takam elaborated on his admiration for Davis, “And Davis, I want to pick Davis. Why? He’s a young guy, strong guy. They call him Tank, right? Really strong. And then I like the way he fight. I like the way he fights. I see many of his fights, I see many of his training. It’s no excuse. You know, he goes to fight, he doesn’t go to job. He’s a warrior, like they say in Africa, he’s a lion. Yes, he’s a lion.”

Through Takam’s lens, the conversation illuminated the qualities that, in his view, position Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta Davis as frontrunners for the face of boxing—melding prowess, resilience, and the sheer spectacle of their presence in the ring.

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Who do you see as the face of boxing, and what qualities do they embody that elevate them to such esteemed status?