LAS VEGAS — Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis labored arduous for this. It was his first true coaching camp in years, and at round 9:30 a.m. Friday morning, his coach, the revered Stephen “Breadman” Edwards knowledgeable him his battle in opposition to rising undefeated middleweight Elijah Garcia was off.
This was first reported by The Ring’s Jake Donovan.
Instructed by sources on the bottom in Las Vegas that Elijah Garcia has fallen sick and compelled to withdraw from bout vs. Kyrone Davis. No phrase but on whether or not emergency substitute opponent will probably be searched for Davis. #TszyuFundora
— Jake Donovan (@JakeNDaBox) March 29, 2024
Davis (18-3-1, 6 knockouts) felt he was in the most effective form of his life to face the 20-year-old Garcia (16-0, 13 knockouts) on the Tim Tszyu-Sebastian Fundora undercard on Premier Boxing Champions’ inaugural Amazon Prime occasion on Saturday (8pm ET/5pm PT) from the T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.
“That is devastating,” Edwards stated. “We had been informed in a cellphone name that Elijah is sick and never in a position to battle on Saturday night time. He did say one thing within the press convention on Thursday, ‘If I’m not 100-percent, I received’t win,’ or one thing to that nature.
“Possibly he knew he was sick. I can’t query Elijah’s manhood or his integrity. I’m dissatisfied, as a result of Kyrone needed to take some robust fights on brief discover. This was an eight-week coaching camp, and please quote me as saying this, I can’t problem Elijah’s manhood or integrity. Kyrone is clearly very upset, as a result of he was prepared.”
For sure, Davis was upset.
“It’s like being punched within the intestine earlier than I even bought within the ring,” stated Davis, whose three losses are to David Benavidez, on brief discover, the late Patrick Day and Junior Castillo, who has not fought since 2017. “It’s tough. I’m holding up. It’s disappointing. I labored arduous, I skilled arduous. The battle is off.
“I’ll strickle round this weekend and watch the fights. I do know it’s nobody’s fault. All I used to be informed was he was sick and couldn’t battle.”
Based on Garcia’s camp, he was imagined to weigh in Friday morning. He initially thought he was affected by allergic reactions, however when the signs bought worse, he was taken to a medical care facility and identified to have a extreme sinus and respiratory an infection Friday morning.
Garcia was wanting ahead to the problem.
“I might say that is my hardest check,” Garcia informed The Ring a number of weeks in the past. “I do know Kyrone is de facto robust and has a whole lot of ability, so I’m not overlooking Kyrone in any respect. I do know what’s entrance of me. I’ve been coaching for a very long time. I’m in actual fine condition.”
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.
Comply with @JSantoliquito