Tank’s response makes it clear that contact between the camps does not mean the rematch is close. Davis initially named 140 pounds, later offered 144, and now ridiculed Ryan’s insistence on the full welterweight limit.

Garcia revealed that Davis and Al Haymon reached out to open talks for a rematch. Instead of jumping at the offer, Garcia immediately laid down the law: the fight happens at the full 147-pound limit, and Davis must take a tune-up first.

“I can confirm Gervonta and Al have contacted my team. 147 or nothing,” Ryan said on X. “And I want him to get a tune up fight and be at his best when we fight. He has some stuff to handle but we for sure going to get it going on. Let’s rumble.”

Telling Davis to go find an interim opponent is the ultimate power move. It treats Davis like an unranked challenger auditioning for a shot at the crown, not a pound-for-pound star. Davis is coming off a flat, controversial draw against Lamont Roach, an outing that destroyed his invincibility and wounded his box-office appeal. He needs Garcia to restore his standing, but Ryan refuses to hand him a lifeline.

Ordering Gervonta into a tune-up also eliminates every built-in excuse about inactivity while Ryan handles business of his own. Garcia plans to defend his belt in December or January, targeting Angel Fierro or Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz.

Taking Cruz would be a direct psychological attack on Tank. Cruz gave Davis twelve grueling rounds in 2021. If Garcia blows Cruz out inside a few rounds, Davis will enter negotiations with zero credibility remaining.

Davis already senses his control slipping away. He tried offering 140 pounds, then floated 144 from burner accounts. Ryan shut down both numbers without hesitation. Fresh off obliterating Conor Benn in two rounds, Ryan has zero reason to drain himself.

Davis spent years calling the shots. Now he is the needy party begging for terms, and Ryan is perfectly content to make him wait outside.

Conor Benn came up short when challenging for the WBC welterweight title on Saturday and former undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor has now given his opinion on whether ‘The Destroyer’ can ever capture world honours.

Ryan Garcia made a first successful defence of the WBC title as he ran through Benn in just two rounds in Las Vegasflooring the Briton with a prodigious right-hand and then stopping him on his feet.

Whilst Garcia now looks set for unifications after defeating his WBC mandatory challenger, fans are questioning where Benn can go from here and if he should remain at world level or drop down and attempt to get his hands on the British title.

In an interview with Seconds OutTaylor admitted that the outcome of Benn’s world title bid was what he expected it to be, stating his belief that Benn is a domestic-level fighter.

“It was something that I kind of expected, really. I have said it for long enough and I have said it numerous times, I don’t think that Conor Benn is anywhere near world level.

“I know that I sound like I am being critical of him, but I am just saying what I think. I do think that he is domestic/European level at best.

“He is getting these fights and these opportunities because of the pull that he has got. He has got this commercial pull and he is getting opportunities off the back of that.”

‘The Tartan Tornado’ then went on to declare that he does not envisage Benn ever getting his hands on a world title, despite his fellow Briton being just 29 years old.

“I don’t think that he is any better than that [British/European level]I don’t think that he will win a world championship, but he has got massive appeal.”

Benn is set to move back up in weight following his first stoppage loss, with a big leap up to either middleweight or super-middleweight expected to be confirmed soon and possibly even a trilogy showdown with Chris Eubank Jr.

Canelo Alvarez is set to challenge for the WBC super-middleweight world title next month in an attempt to regain the 168lb throne. Should he be successful, a ‘firefight’ could be waiting for him.

Terence Crawford brought an end to Canelo’s reign as the undisputed super-middleweight world champion 12 months ago, but ‘Bud’ retired shortly after the win and the belts were subsequently reassigned, whilst Canelo was sidelined through injury.

On Halloween, Canelo seeks to dethrone one of those new champions as he collides with WBC titleholder Christian Mbilli, atop a mammoth ‘Mexico vs. The World’ bill in Riyadh, which already features three world title bouts.

On the Mr Versace Podcastreigning WBO super-middleweight world champion Hamzah Sheeraz shared his keenness for a unification clash against the Mexican superstar, if he is able to get the better of Mbilli.

“Absolutely, [I want Canelo if he beats Mbilli]. Listen, I have got to keep doing my thing, keep winning, keep putting on big performances, moving forwards and he has got to do the same.

“He is a legend of the sport. If the fight happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I will continue to be the best version of myself that I could be, but yeah it would be an absolute honour to share the ring with him.

“I think that it would be a firefight, for sure.”

Canelo-Mbilli is set for October 31. Sheeraz has been ordered to take on his mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly next in order to avoid being stripped of his world title, with a purse bid hearing scheduled for this Wednesday, September 16.