WHAT: A day away from Gervonta Davis’ WBA Super Featherweight World Champion defense against former world champion Hugo Ruiz, SHOWTIME Sports® released a video feature detailing his relationship with his longtime trainer and mentor Calvin Ford.
“Training back home in Baltimore was great,” said Davis. “Just having my team and my coach in my corner. I feel like Calvin brings out the best in me. I’ve been in the gym since I was 7 and he was my main coach always. So I feel like he understands me, and I understand him.
“We have a bond both inside the ring and outside the ring. He brings the best out in me, I believe.”
Ford said he saw something special in “Tank” from Day 1. “He wanted to stand out from the rest of them; first one in the gym, and last one in the gym,” Ford said. “I started taking him home a lot, and I think that’s how we got so close.”
Davis makes the first defense of his WBA title against Ruiz in the main event of Saturday’s SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING tripleheader In the televised co-feature, undefeated 140-pound contender Mario Barrios will take on Richard Zamora in a 10-round super lightweight bout. The telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with a 10-round lightweight bout between former world champion Javier Fortuna and former world title challenger Sharif Bogere.
SHOWTIME will present live streaming undercard action and pre-fight analysis on social media platforms beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT this Saturday. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING COUNTDOWN will feature a 10-round super welterweight matchup between former world title challenger Erickson Lubin and former world champion Ishe Smith, as well as a 10-round super lightweight bout between Juan Heraldez and Eddie Ramirez.
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ABOUT DAVIS VS. RUIZ
Gervonta Davis vs. Hugo Ruiz pits the WBA Super Featherweight World ChampionDavis against the former world champion Ruiz in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on Saturday, February 9 from Dignity Health Sports Park, formerly StubHub Center, in Carson, California and presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT and features undefeated super lightweight Mario Barrios taking on Mexico’s Richard Zamora and former world champion Javier Fortuna battling lightweight contender Sharif Bogere.
The event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions, TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing and tickets are sale now and can be purchased at AXS.com.
