“Gervonta Davis, I think he’s a very good fighter. He’s an underachiever,” Haney told InsideRingShow. “I think he has so much talent. I believe his issues outside the ring are holding him back from reaching his full potential, and that he doesn’t want to test himself against the best fighters in the world. A guy like ‘Pitbull’ Cruz is a fight nobody asked for.”
Some fans quickly came to Davis’ defense on social media, pointing to his 2023 seventh-round stoppage of Ryan Garcia. The result remains a common point of comparison as Garcia later upset Haney in April 2024, dropping him three times en route to a decision victory. For Davis supporters, that chain of results is used to argue that Haney’s criticism carries less weight.
Devin’s comments come as Gervonta and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz move closer to a second fight. Multiple boxing outlets have reported that the two teams are in advanced discussions for a rematch expected sometime this summer, although no date or venue has been finalized.
Their first meeting came at lightweight in December 2021, when Tank won a close unanimous decision after twelve competitive rounds. Pitbull’s pressure made the fight one of the toughest nights of Davis’ career, and the Mexican rival has been pursuing a second meeting ever since.
Talks for a rematch are expected to put the fight at 140 pounds rather than the 135-pound limit used in their first meeting. Issac’s team has publicly pushed for the second fight for months, arguing that the original encounter left unfinished business between the two fighters.
Haney has long been linked with Gervonta in fan discussions of the best fights available around lightweight and light welterweight. His criticism reflects a view of some observers who believe that Davis’ strength and ability have not always matched the level of opposition he has faced.
Tank remains one of boxing’s biggest draws, but the list of elite opponents on his record is still thinner than many expected at this point in his career. Devin’s point is direct: the talent has never been in question, yet the biggest tests have appeared less often than they should.
