After depriving fans of his in-ring appearance for 14 months, Gervonta Davis is back in action on June 15. The American boxer, who has tussled with and challenged Canelo Alvarez for the title of ‘face of boxing,’ will be eager to make his case and showcase his devastating power, ending his long slump. However, facing him is Frank Martin, who is itching to make a mark of his own in the biggest fight of his career. So, who wins this exciting encounter? A champion with star power or a challenger with ambition?

The fans missed ‘Tank’ and his heavy-loading punches for the better half of last year, as he struggled with issues outside the ring. In the months away from the ring, he worked on his body and fitness so that he could jump straight into action when called upon. Is this new, toned, and shredded version of Davis ready to ensure he stands tall as the WBA champion when the curtains draw on the event?

Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin: Tale of the tape

Why do the fans rally around Davis? The 29-year-old is in his prime years and is churning out exciting results, keeping fans captivated. His spotless record of 29-0 with 27-0 KOs is analogous to his high-voltage persona and only adds to the allure. What’s more? The fans and the foes look at his 93.1% KO ratio and realize the action and thunderstorm the Baltimore native brings into the squared circle. What actually turns their heads is his ability to finish fights, despite his diminutive height of 5’5″ (1.66 m) and reach of 67½” (171 cm).

When compared, Martin, 29, also holds his ground against the daunting resume of Davis. The fans have taken a liking for ‘The Ghost’ in recent years and his unblemished record of 18-0 with 12 KOs also suggests he can hang out with the elites. What works in Martin’s favor over Davis is his wider body dimensions, which he could use to bully him. The Detroit native is the taller of the two at 5’8″ (1.73 m) and looks to rely on his long lever, as his reach advantage of 68″ (173 cm) allows him to unleash crafty combinations and effective jabs. His size advantage has helped him dictate his will on his opponents. But his KO ratio of 66.67% doesn’t hit a home run with the fans.

The size advantage is redundant if the weight advantage doesn’t accompany it. It’s one department where Davis has been tactical, and when he recently stood on the scales, those were tipped at 133.4 pounds, one pound lighter than Martin’s 134.4 pounds. But these numbers won’t paint a better picture unless you know how to contextualize them in light of both boxer’s recent results and their fighting styles. Let’s dive deep into that.

Clash of fighting styles: a hard-hitting boxer-puncher vs crafty pugilist

Boxing fans face a conundrum while categorizing Davis. Is he a swarmer, a power-puncher, or a boxer-puncher? Unlike a swarmer, the WBA champion doesn’t throw many punches in a round. You can always notice his punch output remains low. But what separates him from the rest is his brutal power, which he tends to reserve and only unload at critical moments after he has gauged his rival and figured out his defensive holes.

In addition, the former super featherweight champion has other surprises in store for his rivals, such as fighting off backfoot, quick head movements, and an impressive mix of feints and counter-punching. You can’t put him in a box of sluggers or swarmers, as his fighting style is multi-dimensional. Fans fondly remember how Davis controlled the pace and knocked out Leo Santa Cruz with a single left uppercut. The flashes of his excellent counter-punching technique dropped Rolando Romero face-flat on the canvas. The fans cheered the most when Davis engaged with Ryan Garcia and broke him down with fierce body blows.

The landscape drastically changes when you look at Martin and his fighting style. He knows when to put a peddle on pace and aggression and when to bide his time in the fight. But what excites the fans is his ability to land punches from awkward angles. You can also picture him as a perfect blend of athleticism, blazing speed, good footwork, and combinations. You add his famed trainer Derrick James into the mix and you realize how dangerous he could be in the ring.

Addition of James has helped him develop his well-rounded game and style, which took the zero of Michel Rivera. However, the cracks in his game were visible against Artem Harutyunyan, as he huffed and puffed to victory. While you can brush aside the odd performance, it did expose the gaping holes in his style. Can his technical proficiency, speed, and boxing IQ triumph over Davis?

Prediction: An upset on the cards or business as usual?

For fans and pros, Davis is an overwhelming favorite. Everyone sees him winning in the later rounds, as he shakes off his ring rust, drains out Martin, and catches him lacking with a left hook or a straight. But it’s not that simple. Martin has excellent foot movement and can put himself out of Davis’ hitting range. You can’t also downplay his skill at cutting angles and creating awkward positions to puzzle the champion.

It will be Martin’s volume punching that might make a difference in the ring, targeting Davis’ body and head. He can also mix in constant jabs to control the distance and use combinations to not allow Davis to get back into the groove. But he won’t be the first to bring in a similar game plan. But can he be the first to successfully implement it?

What do you make of this coming fight between Gervonta Davis and Frank Martin? Who do you think will emerge victorious and go down the unification route? Let us know in the comments below.