Ryan Garcia has revealed himself and lightweight rival Gervonta Davis were separated by security after a fiery altercation in a nightclub.
Garcia knocked out Javier Fortuna back in June in his second fight in three months, to continue his charge towards stardom and a lightweight world title shot. The American star has forever been linked with a shot against fellow prodigy Davis whose career has been guided by mentor Floyd Mayweather.
The pair have held talks for several weeks over a potential showdown later this year, and have both stated their intentions to end each others undefeated streak on social media. And Garcia has revealed that the pair came closer to fighting than ever, after he approached Davis when the pair were out partying.
“I actually did see Tank in the club,” Garcia said. "He's a tough guy. He was very low-key, in his hoodie. I went up to his table … and we said, ‘Yo, are we gonna make this fight happen?’ And I guess he got all offended by that. Got all worked up and I was like, ‘Yo, what you on about, man? Ain’t no respect here?
"He responds with, ‘Nah, there ain’t no respect here.’ So [I said], ‘Oh, it’s like that. OK, it’s like that.’ Then he grabbed my chain, but I wasn’t worried about [it]. There were so many security guards there. I knew he wasn’t going to take my chain or do anything, really. He just wanted to seem tough. So I said ‘It’s like that, huh?’
"And then he responded again, ‘Yeah, it’s like that.’ Then he had to let go and I said, ‘You know what’ — I said something to him. He knows what I said. Not gonna repeat it on Live, but just know, the fight, that’s where it really happens. Outside the ring you can act tough all you want. Inside the ring it all changes.”
Who wins if the pair meet - Ryan Garcia or Gervonta Davis? Let us know in the comments section below
Davis quickly responded to the public news of the altercation by claiming that his manager Al Haymon "became scared" that his rival's team would pull the plug on negotiations, after hearing about the face-to-face meeting. The WBA 'regular' champion has not fought since defeating Rolando Romero back in May and has been locked in talks online over a huge fight with Garcia.
Garcia's promoter Oscar De La Hoya gave a worrying update on the fight suggesting he is still yet to receive an official call so the pair can discuss whether they will touch gloves.
“That’s the way it has to happen. You have to go through promoters, and so I’m waiting for that call," he wrote on social media. “Make it happen. It’s a great match, right? Tank-Ryan, I want it. I want to make it happen now."
