Gervonta “Tank” Davis remains one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but ongoing legal issues outside the ring have put his career in doubt. Will the three-division champion ever fight again?

Ryan Garcia is a talented fighter, gifted with elite speed and devastating left hand power. However, the biggest victory of his career over Devin Haney was wiped out after he tested positive for a banned substance. Will Garcia finally be able to put it all together and win his first major world title by defeating Mario Barrios on February 21?

Andreas Hale, Nick Parkinson and James Regan answer these and more questions about Nick Ball, Claressa Shields, Tyson Fury and the Leigh Woods-Josh Warrington rematch, separating what’s real from what’s not.

True or not: Gervonta Davis will never fight again

Not true. Davis has been teasing retirement and his disinterest in fighting is well documented, but it’s challenging to believe he’ll hang up his gloves after his recent legal troubles. In any case, the legal issues will make him fighting again even more likely. Reason? Money. Regardless of what you think about Davis’ willingness to fight, he makes a lot of money whenever he steps into a boxing ring. He was scheduled to earn a huge salary to fight Jake Paul at the November show, but Davis was charged with battery, aggravated battery, false imprisonment, kidnapping and intentional infliction of emotional distress in a civil lawsuit filed by a former girlfriend, and the fight was canceled.

No one knows how long he will be sidelined, but Davis is only 31 years elderly and in excellent physical shape. Even if he has no desire to compete, waiting for his return will certainly result in a significant payday that will be extremely hard for him to turn down.

Real or not: Tyson Fury will fight Arslanbek Makhmudov

Not true. Fury may not be at his best after 16 months out of the ring and it may not be a comfortable sight for his fans at times, but the former champion can still be expected to beat an opponent who has been stopped twice in his last four fights. Makhmudov, 36, is coming off a dominant decision victory over Dave Allen last October, which was likely a good enough performance for Fury’s team to select him as their returning opponent.

Makhmudov was sent to the canvas three times on body shots by Agit Kabayel, who stopped the 6-foot-5 Makhmudov in four rounds in December 2023. Body targeting may be something Fury wants to address as well.

Guido Vianello then stopped Makhmudov with an eye injury in August 2024, so Makhmudov isn’t in the most impressive form ahead of his biggest fight yet. However, Fury has had problems in transition fights before – he was badly cut in a fight with Otto Wallin in the warm-up before his rematch with Deontay Wilder in 2019 – and may not be perfect in the fight.

The 37-year-old Fury will enter this fight having lost two consecutive decisions in title fights against Oleksandr Usyk, but Fury should win this fight even if he has to go the distance.

Real or not: Ryan Garcia will win the world title in 2026

True. Garcia had a tumultuous 2024 and 2025, but he remains extremely blessed with undeniable boxing skills. Say what you will about whether he deserved this title shot, but there is no doubt that a fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios is his best – and possibly last – chance to win a world title. Garcia is undeniably more talented than Barrios, but the biggest question mark will be over his preparation.

Barrios has a physical approach to boxing and uses his 6-foot-10 height and 71-inch reach to out-jump and overtake his opponent. He’s not necessarily known as a hefty puncher, as his last knockout came in 2023 against journeyman Jovana Santiago, so Garcia isn’t at risk of being stopped for the second time in his career. Barrios’ last two performances have been less than stellar, as he retained the title with draws against 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao last July and the solid if unspectacular Abel Ramos in November 2024.

If Garcia is included, his speed and power should be enough to earn him his first world title against Barrios. We’ve been waiting for Garcia to reach his enormous potential and he should find a way to leave Las Vegas with the gold in his possession.

True or not: Nick Ball will knock out Brandon Figueroa and defend the WBA featherweight title

Not true. The agile, agile Ball has knocked out massive opponents in the past, but two-division world champion Figueroa presents a completely different challenge. Moreover, Figueroa has never been knocked out. Ball has had some setbacks in his last three title defenses – two stoppages – since winning the WBA featherweight belt in a decision win over Ray Ford in 2024.

Ball said he considers his tiny stature (he’s 5-foot-7) an advantage compared to his rivals, and Figueroa, who stands seven inches lofty, will prove it. Expect Ball to claim victory on home turf in Liverpool, England after an intriguing clash. However, KO may be a step too far against the tough Figueroa.

Real or not: Franchon Crews-Dezurn will upset Claressa Shields in fight for undisputed heavyweight championship

Not true. For all of Shields’ achievements (two Olympic gold medals, five-division champion and undisputed position in three weight classes), we tend to overlook the fact that she is 30 years elderly and entering her prime boxing form. She defeated Crews-Dezurn by decision in their professional debut almost a decade ago. Crews-Dezurn improved, becoming the undisputed champion along the way, but Shields also improved. Neither of them should enter the ring expecting the same opponent they met in November 2016. While Crews-Dezurn, 38, may be familiar with Shields, she is entering a weight class where GWOAT has been in for the past 18 months.

There is also the fact that Shields is widely considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. She was not close to defeat and there was no indication that she would ponderous down. Crews-Dezurn is certainly talented, but given Shields’ boxing pedigree and her acclimation to the heavyweight division, it will be too massive a mountain for the “Strenuous-Hitting Diva” to climb.

True or not: Leigh Wood will retire Josh Warrington

True. Wood looks the more likely winner of this rematch, but not only will he end Warrington’s career, he could also end his own.

Wood was losing the fight when he knocked out Warrington in round 7 in his second defense of the WBA featherweight title in Sheffield, England in October 2023. And after these two gave us a couple of great nights, their rematch could have ended their careers. Warrington looked like he was retiring after his defeat to Anthony Cacace in September 2024 when he left his gloves in the middle of the ring, and Wood recently admitted he was unsure if he would fight after the rematch.

Warrington, 35, has lost three of his last four fights, while Wood, 37, was stopped in his last fight by Cacace in the ninth round in May last year. It will be a close call, but Wood has shown he can ruthlessly finish massive fights and can take inspiration from his cheering at home in Leeds, England.