LAS VEGAS -- Gervonta "Tank" Davis and Ryan Garcia had to be restrained at Friday's weigh-in outside T-Mobile Arena as a raucous crowd of supporters for both boxers looked on ahead of Saturday's superfight.
After they tipped the scales under the 136-pound catchweight limit, Davis lightly shoved Garcia. Garcia responded with a return shove as several people associated with each respective fighter built a buffer to separate them.
Davis weighed 135.1 pounds; Garcia came in at 135.5, his lowest weight since January 2021.
"I think [Davis] and Bernard [Hopkins] started getting into it and then it just became something crazy," said Garcia, 24, who competed at the 140-pound limit in his past two fights. "... My focus now is just on Gervonta Davis. That's why I kept looking at him. I'm ready to destroy him."
Due to a rehydration clause in the bout contract requested by Davis, both fighters had to weigh in again on Saturday without exceeding 146 pounds. Davis weighed in at 144.1 pounds. Garcia (23-0, 19 KOs), who holds a 4.5-inch height advantage on Davis, tipped the scales at 144.9. While same-day weigh-ins aren't common, they have been utilized in the past for major fights. If either boxer came in over the 146-pound limit, they would have faced six-figure fines.
Davis (28-0, 26 KOs) has campaigned once at 140 pounds, an 11th-round TKO victory over Mario Barrios in June 2021. This is Davis' heaviest weight since then.
"[Hopkins] needs to sit back and let the youngins do it," said Davis, 28, referring to the Hall of Fame fighter who is aligned with Team Garcia as part of Golden Boy Promotions. "... This [atmosphere] made me excited, man. Made me want to go out there and put on the great performance in front of the beautiful fans and ... get the job done.
"Punishment. Knockout. Don't blink your eyes. Don't get no popcorn. Don't get no drinks -- none of that. Make sure y'all focused. ... It's going to be an incredible fight."