There’s a makeover at Gervonta Davis‘ corner. For long, fans were used to the familiar sight of Calvin Ford and Kenny Ellis. Pics of Mike Tyson and Cus D’Amato often come to mind. There’s another example – ‘Canelo’ and Eddy Reynoso or even Pacquiao–Roach. That’s how the triumvirate of Gervonta Davis, Calvin Ford, and Kenny Ellis resonated with fans. But it seems fans may no longer see Ford and Ellis covering ‘Tank’s corner, at least for the Roach Jr. fight.
Instead, Barry Hunter will accompany Gervonta Davis. One wonders what might have caused the rejig. Speaking with Fight Hub TV, Calvin Ford shed some light on the matter. Davis is fighting on his second PBC-Amazon Prime. Apart from the headliner, the show at the Barclays features a slew of exciting fights, including two light welterweight title clashes.
I’m still part of it, just from a different perspective
Like many, Ford anticipates a good fight and seeing how Davis’ training translates into the ring. With ‘Tank’ coming from Baltimore and Roach from D.C., he recalled the duo sparring a lot in the gym. He respected Roach’s work ethic and felt that it’s a great opportunity for him.
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 06: WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Gervonta Davis and his trainer Calvin Ford pose for a photo at Churchill Boxing Club on February 6, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
According to him, people are misinterpreting the situation. “We ain’t change up anything,” he said. He’d just taken a step back, but the training structure remained the same. The reporter made it clear that they’re not implying a breakup or a falling out between Ford and Gervonta Davis. They just wanted to know whether the temporary separation made their bond stronger – like when family members spend time apart and then appreciate each other more when they reunite.
“No, he came to see me dead slow down and worrying about you because boom, he knows that I spend time with my amateurs. You know me; both of y’all know me very well. I spend time with my amateurs all the time; that’s my peace,” replied coach Ford. Even though he wasn’t directly training ‘Tank,’ knowing where he was and that he was training gave him a sense of reassurance.
He acknowledged that being away from Davis allowed them both to appreciate their bond. When he returned to the gym, Ford could tell the lightweight champion missed him, just like he missed the latter.
Team Gervonta Davis holds strong
A similar kind of reassurance came from Barry Hunter too. “Calvin will be there, Coach Barry will be there, Coach Boogie will be there, and Kenny will be there as well,” he said during an interview. While Calvin Ford and Kenny Ellis won’t be in ‘Tank’s corner, he and other coaches will still be there. Implying it’s not a major issue, Hunter wanted to remind that this isn’t the first time changes in ‘Tank’s corner occurred.
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 07: Gervonta Davis punches Hector Luis Garcia in their WBA World Lightweight Championship bout at Capital One Arena on January 7, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Hunter had been involved with ‘Tank’ since his amateur days and early career. He is not new to ‘Tank’s team. Like Ford, he also noted that the internet often spreads misinformation, and people make assumptions without knowing the full story. He emphasized that ‘Tank’ is like family.
So fans can stay assured, it looks like a temporary shake-up that may revert back to the old format when Gervonta Davis returns after a few months.
Which is your favorite boxer-trainer pair of all time?
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