In the world of boxing, blows are exchanged in the ring. But what about fashion jabs outside it? Imagine two renowned fighters, Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney, embroiled in a feud. This has already been the case with them for weeks, but this time, it’s not about contracts or fights.

It’s about tank tops and necklaces. Sounds odd, right? A recent Twitter post showcased both boxers in strikingly similar attire. The observation was amusing, but Davis’ response? That’s where the intrigue lies. He didn’t just jab; he swung with words. But what exactly did he say?

From gloves to garments: Gervonta Davis and Haney’s face-off

In the combustible world of boxing, words can sting as sharply as punches. But how far is too far? Recently, Bill Haney, father of Devin Haney, took rivalry banter to a new level. His target? Gervonta Davis, a fellow boxer and recent convert to Islam. The incident?

Bill Haney isn’t stopping!

The simmering rivalry between Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney, two titans of the boxing world, took a sharp turn recently. Bill Haney, Devin’s father and a central figure in his boxing career, has ignited controversy with a provocative social media post. After a zoo visit, where he controversially referred to a chimpanzee as “Abdul Wahid” – Davis’ new Muslim name, Haney escalated the situation.

Then hours later, on Instagram, he shared an old tweet from Davis, originally reading “The Big Ape 🦍,” dated May 30, 2021. Haney boldly crossed this out, replacing it with “Lil Monkey.” This direct jab intertwines personal attacks with religious undertones, intensifying an already heated rivalry.

Historically, trash talk has been a staple in boxing, a mental game played outside the ring. However, Haney’s recent actions blur the lines of sportsmanship and respect. His mocking of Davis’ with the use of animal comparisons in his taunts bring a new, unsettling dimension to this feud.

But could these remarks be because of Davis’ provocation a few days ago?

Did Gervonta Davis’ comments spark Haney’s mocking retaliation?

The fiery exchange between Gervonta Davis and the Haneys may have taken a new turn with Davis’ comments potentially provoking Bill Haney’s mocking actions. Davis, known for his in-ring prowess, not so long ago warned Devin Haney in a charged statement, saying, “Your father gonna cry for what I’m a do to you.”

This bold proclamation, layered with both challenge and disdain, might have been the catalyst for Bill Haney’s subsequent controversial behavior. Seen as a response to Davis’ taunts, Bill’s actions at the zoo and his social media posts can be interpreted as a direct retaliation. This tit-for-tat in the boxing world highlights the deep-seated rivalry and the lengths to which fighters and their camps will go to unsettle their opponents.

From Davis’ incendiary comments to Bill Haney’s provocative actions, each move seems calculated to unnerve and challenge the other. Where should the line be drawn in the art of psychological gamesmanship? What do you think? Is this level of trash talk a necessary component of the sport’s hype, or does it detract from the essence of boxing?

Gervonta Davis was the favourite heading into his fight with Ryan Garcia in April, and many were expecting him to win by KO.

However, a body shot victory was not predicted by many and so it came as a surprise when Garcia sank to a knee in round seven.

The fight began with a typically tentative start from Davis as he sized up his opponent in the early stages.

Garcia threw out some jabs in the opening round, though little of consequence landed for either man.

Early in round two, Garcia launched his first real attacks as he hurled combinations at Davis.

Tank clinched to negate these moments, though Garcia was relentless with his assault and had him on the back foot.

However, in an instant the round flipped on its head as Garcia missed with a left hook and Davis nailed him with a counter left of his own which knocked him down to the canvas.

Garcia quickly rose back to his feet and survived the round as he was not badly hurt – the knockdown reminiscent of the only time he’d previously been floored by Luke Campbell in 2021.

The third round was quieter as a result, with Garcia far more cautious having felt Tank’s power.

This allowed Davis to open up more and come forward as he made his opponent flinch with every feint.

Round four saw Tank continuing to box in a methodical fashion, picking his shots well and showing off impressive defensive ability to avoid all of Garcia’s dangerous left hook attempts.

By the fifth, Davis looked completely comfortable as he grabbed Garcia during a clinch and span him around. He then taunted his opponent by doing a 360 spin on his own once they were separated.

As they hit the halfway point, Garcia finally had some serious success by nailing Tank with a couple of hard right hands.

In round seven, he attempted to build on this success but was then smashed by a brutal body shot from Davis.

Garcia retreated a few steps and took a knee as the pain spread through his mid-section.

He was unable to make it back to his feet and the referee waved off the contest.

Garcia explained in his post-fight interview: “He caught me with a good body shot and I just couldn’t recover.

“I couldn’t breathe. I just couldn’t get up…

“Tank is a great fighter. I take my hat off to him. We talked a lot of s***, but it’s all love at the end of the day.

“I was honoured to be in the ring with a great fighter and I respect him a lot.”

Davis said: “I seen his facial expression and that’s what made me take it to him. It was a good shot, for sure.

“I thought he was gonna get up, but I like to play mind games, so when he was looking at me, I was looking at him, like, ‘Get up,’ and he shook his head, ‘No.’”

Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela was apoplectic when he was given the first results. After going 10 hard-fought rounds with Chris Colbert a few months prior, the 24-year-old believed he did more than enough to earn the victory. He was wrong.

Valenzuela (13-2, 9 KOs) lashed out at Colbert, demanded a rematch, and refused to take no for an answer. His bellyaching, ultimately, got him the sequel he believed he deserved. This time around, he told the three judges sitting ringside to take a smoke break as he got rid of Colbert before the sound of the final bell.

Before taking care of business, Valenzuela was given extra motivation to get the job done. With the WBA making their rematch a title eliminator, Valenzuela knew that a win would put him in the driver’s seat for a showdown with Gervonta Davis.

Immediately after decapitating Colbert, Valenzuela began putting pressure on the sanctioning body. The Mexican native is convinced that he’s earned his spot with one of boxing’s biggest stars and won’t be summarily dismissed.

Kenny Ellis, however, one of Davis’ assistant trainers, cracked a smile while Valenzuela continued to call out his fighter. If Davis decides that Valenzuela is next, fans should expect a short and violent night.

“I don’t got him getting out of three rounds with Tank,” said Ellis during an interview with MillCity Boxing.

Normally, Davis doesn’t play around with his food. Before closing the curtains on his 2023, the Baltimore native took out a pair of Garcia’s. Since ending their brazen trash talk, Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) has been seen going back and forth with Devin Haney.

Presently, everything is fluid. Meaning, he’s still in need of a dance partner. Valenzuela, considering his recent track record, is somewhat worthy of sharing the ring with Davis according to Ellis. With that said, he has one glaring and obvious weakness that he must correct if he hopes to stand any chance with the pound-for-pound star.

“Every time he engages he makes a crucial mistake,” explained Ellis. “Every time, not sometimes, every time he engages. Tank would get him in three rounds, if not less.”