By Brian Harty KNOCKOUT OF THE YEAR
THERE’S A TIME TO BOX AND A TIME TO BRAWL, BUT EVERYBODY LOVES A FIGHT WITHOUT JUDGES
1. GERVONTA DAVIS KO 8 FRANK MARTIN June 15, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas Gervonta Davis didn’t worry too much about falling behind on the cards early, content instead to observe through the slot between his raised forearms and let the germ of doubt he’d planted in Frank Martin’s mind fester. It wasn’t that Martin had flinched when Davis faked a punch at the final press conference for their lightweight bout – what would anybody do? – it was that his reflexive parry came far too late to protect him, had the hook been real. That and Martin’s uncomfortable demeanor told a lot. He wasn’t ready. Once Tank lowered his gloves to get a better view of his prey in the middle rounds, Martin’s remaining confidence crumbled under a barrage that was equal parts sophisticated combos and ruthless bombs. Halfway through the eighth, Davis bullied the as-yet-undefeated contender into a corner and brushed him with a right hook that drew Martin’s attention and scattered his defense, creating a wide-open lane for a left uppercut that smashed into the Michigander’s chin and shoved him to the brink of consciousness. Martin’s warrior instinct kicked in and lifted him upright before he crumbled to the canvas, but Davis had all the time he needed to load up a straight
left with brutal accuracy. He was soon stepping over Martin’s prone body to prepare for his customary backflip off the ropes. 2. LUCAS BAHDI KO 6 ASHTON SYLVE July 20, Amalie Arena, Tampa, Florida Going into the sixth round, every “10” on the judges’ scorecards had gone in favor of Ashton “H2O” Sylve. The 20-year-old lightweight prospect had dominated Canada’s Lucas Bahdi, 30, with the unpredictable blend of sharp punches and fluid stance changes that engendered his nickname. His style was perhaps a bit too loose, however, as Bahdi, his mouth bloodied and his immediate future seemingly bleak, perfectly timed a half- baked jab and speared Sylve with a short right counter that beat the Californian’s looping follow-up to the target. The stunned Sylve tried to reset but was met with another straight right that tilted him into position for the icing blow
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– a left hook that instantly turned off the lights and
dropped him face-first into a slumber that lasted for several worrying moments.
3. ANGELO LEO KO 10 LUIS ALBERTO LOPEZ August 10, Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, New Mexico
This IBF featherweight title
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