In order to provide Team USA boxers with advice ahead of the Olympics, Gervonta “Tank” Davis has been granted permission to go outside of the United States to Paris, France. Tank Davis required permission to leave the United States because he is still on probation following his hit-and-run conviction from 2020.
The 29-year-old Davis has been asked by Team USA to counsel their boxers, many of whom look up to him and would value his assistance in this crucial match. According to reports, Tank will be in France from July 19 until August 12.
Amateurs cannot afford to give up three rounds and hope for a knockout, so Tank’s fighting strategy of giving up rounds and then coming back to score a one-punch knockout would not work for them. The Olympic men’s tournament consists of three rounds, and in order to win, they must exert maximum pressure from the first bell.
“Given his status amongst the world’s best boxers, Mr. Davis would be a key asset in motivating and supporting our team to achieve Olympic greatness and become the number one nation in the world at this year’s Olympic Games,” wrote Matt Johnson, high-performance director for USA Boxing in a June 26 letter to Handy.
They have to exert a lot of effort throughout the battle and cannot rely on a late, game-saving knockout to seal the win. Fighters like Tank Davis, who couldn’t afford to be carefree, wouldn’t fare well in Olympic tournaments until they altered their fighting technique.
It will be intriguing to observe the impact that Gervonta’s guidance and mentoring will have on the young fighters on Team USA. It’s uncertain what effect Tank could have on the fighters because his power game is more suited for the professional levels.
The sport of amateur boxing is very distinct from that of professional boxing. It’s similar to equating tennis with badminton. Power punching, hitting forceful, important strikes, and searching for knockouts are all part of the professional game. Similar to fencing, amateur combat involves fighters trying to score points with their strikes.
In amateur boxing, boxers cannot get away with excessive clinching or fouling as they would in professional competition due to tougher restrictions.
