Watch Gervonta Davis’ stunning 12th round KO to win lightweight title after Gamboa suffers horrific ruptured Achilles
GERVONTA DAVIS scored a stunning 12th round knockout as brave Yuriorkis Gamboa fought for the majority of the fight with a ruptured Achilles.
Floyd Mayweather protege Davis opened his move up to lightweight with a shot at the WBA ‘Regular’ title - and left his mark.
Gamboa was on the floor as early as the second round as he fell victim to a solid left hand from 25-year-old Tank.
The veteran, 38, rose to his feet and survived the round but did so after suffering an ankle injury that doctors confirmed was a ruptured Achilles post-fight.
Davis would go on to dominate the bout and again had his man on the floor in the eighth, this time with a lead right-hook starting the onslaught.
The former super-featherweight champion swarmed Gamboa before landing a slashing left hand that decked the Cuban.
It was not the last time Davis’ southpaw left would cause Gamboa a world of trouble as the finish came in the final two minutes.
As the Baltimore favourite went in search of a devastating uppercut his durable ex-world champion opponent somehow stayed on his feet.
But as Gamboa took a slight step back Davis rocketed in a left hand that sent him reeling backwards on the seat of his pants and ref Jack Reiss had finally seen enough.
After the win, newly crowned two-weight champion Davis warned super-featherweight and lightweight champions that he is the “top dog”.
He said: “As you see in the ring, I was catching and hurting him but he was still there. I knew he was better than anyone I had fought before.
“I was mainly focused on catching him with clean shots. So I was catching him with clean shots and wasn’t hurting him. I knew I was in for rounds tonight.
“It was a great experience. I’m only 25 years old.
“I’m learning each and every day. 2020 will be a big year. I feel comfortable at both weights. I feel I could fight at 130 or 135. I’m the top dog. Bring ‘em on.”
Resilient Gamboa said: “I think I ruptured my Achilles tendon before I fell in the second round,
“I’m a warrior and I kept going. But as soon as I felt it I knew it was ruptured.