Before he tasted Caleb Plant‘s beer, Ryan Garcia attracted everyone’s attention with his sleeveless tee. On its front appeared ‘Tank’s #1 Fan’. That’s understandable, given the newly formed rapport between the two former foes. However, it was the caption written on the tee’s back that became the scene stealer. ‘Rematch ME B*tch’, surely brought laughter to Gervonta Davis‘ face. But it didn’t take much time before many inferred a subtle hint as to where the former interim lightweight champion’s heart lay.

Perhaps that could be the reason why he got so irritated when Smith A. Smith left out his name. What was the celebrated commentator’s fault? Well, he picked a boxer that ‘KingRy’ looks forward to for a fight as a potential line-up against ‘Tank’. Returning over a year after he knocked down Ryan Garcia in a catchweight fight, Davis established his supremacy in the lightweight division by scoring yet another knockout victory. This time, it was Frank Martin‘s turn to touch the canvas.

What drove you to leave me? Ryan Garcia asks Stephen A. Smith

“Why didn’t Stonehenge talk about me wtf,” wrote Ryan Garcia. Now, why would he do that? So Stephen A. Smith was in conversation with Molly Qerim. The ‘Inside the Ropes’ host asked, “Before we roll you this Tank Davis 30 and 0 28 Kos, obviously it was a vicious knockout, right? Who do you want to see him fight?” The first name that came off the NBA analyst’s name was that of Shakur Stevenson.

As most fans know, the name of future Hall of Famer and two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasyl Lomachenko has been making the rounds as the front-runner to face Gervonta Davis. But Smith has his doubts. Despite his technical craftsmanship, whether the Ukrainian champion has the wherewithal to face ‘Tank’s punches or not, he remains suspicious. Hence, Shakur Stevenson. “I know everyone raves about him; they call him an elite defensive fighter with power; he can box; he can fight, and the fact of the matter is that he’s earned the right to have the big stage to get an opportunity to fit to to fight the likes of Gervonta Davis,” said Stephen A. Smith.

However, a small corner of his mind prompts Stephen A. Smith to think that, given his power, ‘Tank’ Davis is rather suitable for fighting a division up. In fact, that’s when he took Ryan Garcia’s name, but only as a passing reference. He said, “I want to see him up at the 140 lb. limit; don’t make a Ryan Garcia come down to 135; don’t have the hydration clause in there.”

That’s why he would want the Baltimorean southpaw to face someone like Teofimo Lopez. Unfortunately, Devin Haney couldn’t make it onto Stephen A. Smith’s list. As he pointed out, the former undisputed lightweight champion remains a skilled boxer. But like many, he lacks the capacity to withstand Gervonta Davis’ punches.

But is ‘The Takeover’ feasible?

Most fans might recall that a few months ago, while speaking on social media (recording uploaded by Fight Hub TV on YouTube), Ryan Garcia reportedly took Teofimo Lopez’s name for his next fight after Devin Haney. He subsequently took Sean O’Malley‘s name as well. But then he expressed an interest in a rematch with Gervonta Davis, followed by a fight with boxing great Manny Pacquiao!

“I would love to fight Teofimo Lopez if I can’t get that because he he likes to outbid himself; he likes to like say that he’s you know more he’s worth more than he is, and I’m not trying to de-demean him; I’m just looking at the business aspect of it he he kind of prices himself out every time; that’s why he doesn’t get a big fight,” said Ryan Garcia.

After their respective losses, the stars of Devin Haney and Subriel Matias‘ are currently down. Then Ryan Garcia finds himself amidst a doping scandal. So ‘The Takeover,’ despite a lackluster performance against Jamaine Ortiz, remains a top draw in the light welterweight division. Who knows, perhaps after the ‘Loma’ fight, Gervonta Davis can test the waters at 140 lbs. and see if he can really ‘takeover’ the division.

What’s your take on Stephen A. Smith’s observations? Do you agree with him? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments below.