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Before his latest performance, WBA Lightweight champion Gervonta Davis had the second highest knockout percentage of any boxer in history.
That will only climb if his knockout win over WBA Super Featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz is any indication.
Davis dished out a devastating left uppercut that knocked Santa Cruz out cold in the sixth round of their two-title fight, a punch that he first found success with in the fourth round.
With the win, Davis (24-0, 23 KOs), retained his WBA lightweight title and captured Santa Cruz’s WBA Super Featherweight title.
Before the knockout, Santa Cruz appeared to be fighting off the ropes.
Moments before the fight-ending blow, Santa Cruz pumped out three consecutive right hands, two of which connected.
Just as the third one was about to land, Davis evaded the punch and delivered the biggest one of the night.
Santa Cruz (37-2-1, 19 KOs) had never been knocked out before coming into the bout.
From the outset of the fight, Santa Cruz appeared to want to be the aggressor coming forward toward the dangerous striker that Davis is.
Davis went down to the canvas in the first round but the referee Rafael Ramos ruled it a slip and not a knockdown.
Frustration began to build in the second round when Davis threw Santa Cruz to the mat and complained to the referee about alleged punches to the back of the head.
Coming into the fourth round, Davis’ guard was much higher as he was looking for more openings to the body of Santa Cruz.
Round five followed more the same from Davis before closing the show in the sixth frame.
Davis is now a belt holder in two divisions with questions as to who's next for the champion after the longest layoff of his career.
There was a 10-month gap for Davis between fights.
As for Santa Cruz, it’s his first loss since July of 2016.
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