In LAS VEGAS (AP), during their news conference, Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Frank Martin couldn’t resist bantering, even when others were speaking. Their lively exchange continued uninterrupted until Davis jokingly feigned a swing at Martin during a photo op, leaving Martin to flinch and Davis to depart the stage chuckling.

The outcome of Saturday night’s showdown between the undefeated fighters, both aged 29, will determine whether Davis has the last laugh as they vie for Tank’s WBA lightweight championship belt.

This bout marks the highlight of the 100th championship fight night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, a venue with a storied history despite being supplanted by the T-Mobile Arena as Las Vegas’ premier combat sports destination. The co-main event features the interim WBC light heavyweight title fight between David Benavidez and Oleksandr Gvozdyk.

Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) aims to etch his name further into MGM lore by delivering a performance reminiscent of his last outing over a year ago. In that bout on April 22, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena, he unleashed a devastating left uppercut that led to a seventh-round knockout victory over Ryan Garcia.

“I’ve been intensely focused for a considerable period,” Davis remarked. “My repayment for that dedication will be a stellar performance come Saturday night.”