Davis won an old-school high-stakes duel when boxing was figuring out whether the latest wave of popular novel fighting would promote the sport or threaten it.

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After Saturday's 10th round super lightweight title battle with Mario Barrios, Davis accepted some suggestions, but it did not come from his coach Calvin Ford.

Instead, Davis's promoter and mentor Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Floyd Mayweather Jr.) stepped onto the stage at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, making his stables the most successful The boxer and the biggest draw Davis shouted for encouragement. Davis, 26 years old, nicknamed the tank, in order to challenge Barrios' World Boxing Association title, he raised two weight classes in the competition, but it was difficult to find his rhythm when facing bigger opponents.

The unofficial referee on pay-per-view broadcasting put Davis behind Barrios. Mayweather communicated this message to his disciples, and his promoter was anxiously worried that his top boxer was about to feel uneasy.

"You are a dog," Mayweather shouted. "You are the winner. I am behind you."

Mayweather did not recommend tactics to Davis, which shows that the fighter has skills and strategy. In the middle of the 11th round, he used them to punch Barrios in the ribs with a thunderous left hook. After Barrios regained his footing, Davis stunned him with his left hand, prompting referee Thomas Taylor to stop the game.

Davis's technical knockout victory earned him the title of the third weight class world championship. As a native of Baltimore, he won his first championship with a score of 130 pounds in 2017 and is still participating in competitions at that level; he also holds the title of 135 pounds. WBA super lightweight hits 140.

The referee's intervention provided the culmination of the kind of fighting boxing that critics of boxing thought did not happen frequently enough: two undefeated boxers, at the golden age of their careers, shared a common goal in high-risk, high-action matches. risks of. Barrios, 26, is 5 feet 10 inches tall, 5 feet 5 inches taller than Davis. Barrios entered the round with 17 knockouts 26-0, but never faced a fighter from Davis' resume.

As far as Davis is concerned, the last time he participated in the 130-pound super featherweight competition was in October 2020. The game ended with a punch out of Leo Santa Cruz of Mexico, but before Saturday, it was unclear whether Davis had the ability to stun a bigger fighter like Barrios.

"I just need to catch him," Davis said, now 25-0 and 24 knockouts. "It's hard to find him. Once I find him, that's when we finish our work."

Davis won a major victory at a crucial moment in his career. A group of young, accomplished boxers weighing 135 pounds and 140 pounds provide a tempting list of possible fights. Lightweight players Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney maintained the title and remained undefeated, as did Josh Taylor of Scotland, who won multiple championships with a weight of 140 pounds.

Davis' victory came during an uncertain period in the boxing industry, as stakeholders tried to figure out whether a wave of popular novelties would boost or threaten the industry.

On June 19, former middleweight champion Julio César Chávez Jr. lost to retired mixed martial arts player Anderson Silva in a pay-per-view match . On the hole cards, 58-year-old Julio Cesar Chavez played an exhibition match with 42-year-old Hector Camacho Jr.

On June 6, the 44-year-old Mayweather retired in 2017 played against YouTube celebrity Logan Paul in an embarrassing eight-round exhibition match. In late August, Paul’s brother will face the retired mixed martial arts player Tyronn. Woodley. Jack Paul remained unbeaten in previous matches against non-boxers and signed a contract with Showtime, which shows that the network sees some value in the novel fighting.

But the summer schedule is also full of meaningful fights between world-class boxers. Davis and Barrios fought at the same time, and former lightweight champion Vasil Lomachenko played on ESPN's streaming platform. Next month, heavyweights Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder will hold their third championship battle. In mid-August, Errol Spencer Jr. Spence Jr. will defend his welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao.

In the case of Davis, he attracted 16,570 spectators announced with a card as the title, a number that strengthened his promoter’s belief that Davis is one of the sport’s greatest attractions.

Leonard Eleb, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, said in a post-match press conference: "The other tank Davis has been sold."

"I told you he is strong," then he said of Barrios.

On Saturday, Davis seemed to have failed in the early stages of a tense tactical battle, and later he succeeded, when he neutralized Barrios' left long punch.

In the 8th round, Davis broke out and knocked Barrios down with a right uppercut, and then he knocked Barrios down again. After two rounds of close matches and Mayweather’s inspiring conversation, Davis hit the uppercut that brought the fight to an end.

"The explosives of the tank," Barrios said later in the ring. "He found me slipping."

Regis Prograis, a 140-pound competitor, wrote on Twitter: "This is a solid battle against a strong opponent." "Now come and fight a 140-year-old real dog."

Add Prograis to the long list of possible future opponents. If rival promoters can cooperate long enough to conduct these battles, Davis has many options.