Gervonta Davis: This is one of my toughest fights on paper

Four-time world champion Gervonta Davis faces off undefeated WBA super lightweight champion Mario Barrios at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, June 26. The pair battles it out in the headliner of Premier Boxing Champions card live on Showtime PPV.

The open to the public Media Workout event took place at the College Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday, kicking off the Fight Week. Checkout below what Davis and Barrios had to say.

Davis vs Barrios tickets and live stream

Davis vs Barrios tickets are on sale, and can be purchased through Vivid Seats.

Boxing fans in the US can watch Gervonta Davis vs Mario Barrios live on pay-per-view on Showtime.

In other countries, including the UK, Germany, Netherlands, Hungary, Iceland, MENA, Turkey, India, Hong Kong, Greece, Thailand and Cambodia, Davis vs Barrios airs live stream on FITE TV.

Gervonta Davis: This is actually the first time I’m fighting at this weight class

“I’m excited to be in this position to be able to give the fans what they want to see, which is an exciting fight. Atlanta showed me love the last time I came, so why not come back?

“This is one of my toughest fights on paper. I’ll be ready and hopefully he’ll be ready, and we’ll give the fans what they want to see.

“Las Vegas is definitely a boxing town. My team is there at Mayweather Promotions and I brought my personal team out there as well. We’re all a family. We train together, get along, and help each other.

“There is no pressure on me, I am just going out there to do my job. It’s just another day at the job for me. Hopefully he’s ready because I’m definitely ready and we can give the fans what they want to see, which is a knockout.

“[Barrios] is a young champion. I’m going up two weight classes to face him. If they don’t give me the respect after this, I don’t know what I have to do. It’s pretty cool. This is actually the first time I’m fighting at this weight class. Whatever opportunities they give me at 135, or 140, I’ll take them.”

Mario Barrios: I’m just as dangerous as he is

“This is all brand new, but I’m taking it all in and excited to be in Atlanta. I’m just excited to go out there on Saturday and give everybody a great fight.

“No doubt about it, Tank is by far the toughest test for another title defense and I’m going to do whatever it takes to be successful on Saturday. There’s going to be fireworks on Saturday.

“This is a huge opportunity and I’m very excited for this chance. This is a very winnable fight for me, regardless of what everyone has been saying. I’m just excited to be back in the ring and in Atlanta.

“I think it’s not going to be until we both get in the ring that people realize how much size I really have for 140 pounds. Somehow, he’s still the favorite although he’s the challenger in this fight. I just take that as more motivation for me.

Mario Barrios workout
Mario Barrios workout | Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME

“Height-wise, reach. Those are the major advantages. I’m just as dangerous as he is. And just as explosive and just as fast. And I will show that on fight night.

“When they came to me, I said let’s do it but I was like, ‘I’m not going down to 135,’ and they said, ‘Nah, he’s going to come up.’ And I said, ‘Even better.’

“I’ve seen him fight plenty of times. He’s a great fighter and he’s been very successful at the lower weight divisions against the smaller opponents. But this is a different fight for him.

“I didn’t take too much from the Leo Santa Cruz fight. I felt [Gervonta] fought him the way he did because he didn’t respect Santa Cruz’s power. But with our fight he’s going to have no choice and he’s not going to fight me the way he fought Santa Cruz. Whatever he does fight night, I’m going to have to adapt.

“I’ve been boxing just as long as he has and I have an excellent boxing IQ, just as he has. It only takes one punch to change a fight, and he definitely has that one punch. But I’ll find out if that power carries over to 140 pounds.”

Get the full Davis vs Barrios fight card.

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