Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz fight results, highlights: 'Tank' scores unanimous decision over game opponent

Davis wasn't able to put Cruz on the canvas on Sunday night, but he did enough to earn the decision

When Isaac Cruz stepped in on just over one month's notice to face Gervonta "Tank" Davis, many fans and media members felt Davis was going to face a much tougher test than his originally planned bout with Rolando Romero. It's hard to imagine that was incorrect after Cruz was able to give Davis almost all he could handle for 12 rounds at Los Angeles' Staples Center before Davis was able to pull out a narrow unanimous decision win.

Davis was able to land many of his trademark power shots in a rare role as the taller man in the fight, but even as his heavy hooks and uppercuts landed, Cruz never appeared hurt. That may have been a product of Davis suffering a hand injury midway through the fight.

"I hurt my left hand in probably the sixth round but I've got to throw it," Davis said after the fight. "I have to go get it checked out. It's shaking but it is what it is, that's what comes in the sport."

From the opening bell, Cruz fought as he almost always does: bulling his way forward to close the distance and keep his opponent from getting comfortable. Davis, a traditionally slow starter, made the necessary adjustments to Cruz's style beginning around the third round, dialing in with the uppercuts and using movement to keep Cruz from getting inside.

As the rounds wore on, whether a product of Cruz's chin, Davis' hand, or both, it was clear Cruz was not going anywhere and he began to turn the momentum of the fight his way, pulling increasingly close on the scorecards as both men continued to land clean, powerful strikes.

Davis was able to do just a little better in just enough rounds to earn the victory, including in what turned out to be the most important round of the fight, picking up Round 12, in a spot that likely saved him from a draw as the official scorecards read 116-112, 115-113, 115-113.

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Edging out the victory keeps Davis in a solid position in the lightweight division. After George Kambosos Jr. was able to upset Teofimo Lopez on Nov. 27 to capture three of the four recognized lightweight world championships and Devin Haney defended his WBC championship with a win over Joseph Diaz Jr. on Saturday, there are some big fights potentially on the table.

After dismissing the idea of a rematch with Cruz with a simple "hell no," Davis was asked whether he'd stay at lightweight or move back up to super lightweight for his next fight.

"Whatever the best opportunity is out there for me. I'm here for it, man," Davis said before being asked who in the lightweight division he'd most want to fight next. "All them guys are easy work. They're easy work, man. Easy work. I'm the top dog."

Cruz was only the second man to take Davis to the scorecards in Davis' professional career. The decision victory ended a streak of 16 consecutive stoppage wins for Davis.

For his part, Cruz did call for a rematch, claiming to have deserved the win. While a rematch seems unlikely, Davis made it clear that Cruz's gutsy effort had made an impression.

"He's a definite warrior," Davis said "Even though he didn't get the win, a star was born tonight."  

CBS Sports was with you throughout the entire way on Sunday, so be sure to follow along with the live results and highlights below. 

Davis vs. Cruz fight card, odds

• Gervonta Davis def. Isaac Cruz via unanimous decision (116-112 115-113, 115-113)
• Sebastian Fundora def. Sergio Garcia via unanimous decision (115-113, 117-111, 118-110)
  
• Carlos Adames def. Sergiy Derevyanchenko via majority decision (95-95, 97-93, 96-94)
• Eduardo Ramirez def. Miguel Marriaga via unanimous decision (99-90, 99-90, 99-90)

Davis vs. Cruz scorecard, live coverage

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Total
Davis (c)	9	10	10	9	10	10	10	10	10	9	9	10	116
Cruz	10	9	9	10	9	9	9	9	9	10	10	9	112

[Dec 6, 2021 at 12:16 am ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Cruz landed a right and a left late as he chased to the final bell. Tremendous fight. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Davis (116-112)

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:46 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Cruz continued to throw to the body but ate a clean uppercut for his trouble. Davis with another good straight and he shoves Cruz in the clinch, getting a warning for the infration.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:45 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz -- Round 5: Davis hit a straight to the body and a hard straight left hand. Cruz landed a good jab and an uppercut, continuing to let his hands go well. 

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:48 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Cruz ate another Davis uppercut and Davis delivered a little shoulder butt in the clinch. Another Davis uppercut landed. A few good punches from both to end the round. Very close round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Cruz (38-38)

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:42 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Cruz landed a good uppercut and a whipping hook behind it. Davis tried to shake his head and say it didn't hurt him but those were good punches.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:41 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz -- Round 4: Davis missed with the uppercut as he started to look a bit more comfortable but Cruz came forward with some good body shots. 

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:43 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Cruz continued charging and throwing winging punches, just missing while Davis landed some sharp counters. This was the best round so far for Davis. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Davis (29-28)

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:38 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Davis landed a good straight left and just missed an uppercut before Cruz landed another body shot. Davis landed a good hook as Cruz came in and landed the same punch seconds later.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:37 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz -- Round 3: Cruz threw an early jab and landed an uppercut as he briefly got inside. Cruz also went to the body before being tied up by Davis.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:40 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Cruz hit a little counter left hand and then a winging left that landed well before throwing hard to the body. A very competitive round but Davis' uppercuts may have been the deciding factor. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Davis (19-19)

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:34 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Davis landed a good right hook counter shot on Cruz. Davis again landed the hard uppercut, that shot has been there for him so far in the fight. 

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:33 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz -- Round 2: Cruz went right back to rushing forward. Cruz clinched Davis in the corner. Davis popped the jab and tried to throw the left hand as he continued trying to find his timing, just missing with an uppercut.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:31 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Cruz missed with a wild right hand and Davis tried to get a jab working before letting a good left uppercut fly. Cruz with a big right and Davis was buzzed a bit by that one! Great opening round for Cruz and he goes down on a slip late in the round. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Cruz

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:30 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Another left landed for Cruz and a right hand that caught Davis a bit off balance. Cruz continued pressing forward and just trying to keep Davis from getting comfortable or fighting on his front foot.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:29 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Gervonta Davis vs. Isaac Cruz -- Round 1: As expected, Cruz immediately moved forward, landing a left hand and dipping and ducking his way to keep closing distance. Cruz also ripped a right hand to the body as Davis tried to get his timing down.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:24 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Fighters in the ring, introductions are done. It's time for Tank Davis vs. Isaac Cruz! This should be a fun one!

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:08 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Some betting notes on Gervonta "Tank" Davis vs. Isaac Cruz:

Davis is a -1100 favorite as bell-time approaches. The fight going over 6.5 rounds is -150 and under 8.5 is -200, suggesting oddsmakers favor the fight ending somewhere in between.

The most likely outcome, according to the Caesars Sportsbook odds, is a Davis knockout, currently at -500. The least likely outcome (setting aside a draw) is Cruz via decision, which is at +1600.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:05 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

With the undercard out of the way, it's time to turn our attention to the main event. Gervonta "Tank" Davis takes on Isaac Cruz in the lightweight showcase. With George Kambosos upsetting Teofimo Lopez to capture three of the four world titles in the division, lightweight is wide open. WBC champ Devin Haney took care of business last night against JoJo Diaz, which may have set up a unification bout. However, Davis clearly wants to handle his own business to stay in the running to potentially get a crack at a world title at 135 pounds.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:03 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Official result: Sebastian Fundora def. Sergio Garcia via unanimous decision (115-113, 117-111, 118-110)

[Dec 5, 2021 at 11:01 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Sebastian Fundora vs. Sergio Garcia -- Round 12: More of the same in Round 12 with Fundora landing jabs and straight lefts. Fundora landed a heavy undercut and Garcia tried to wade inside but without anything to really change the fight in terms of power. This wasn't the action fight most had expected, instead being a somewhat flat exhibition of Fundora's ability to actually use his reach and box rather than engage in wild brawls. Garcia landed a big hook late but too late to really take advantage.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 10:57 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Sebastian Fundora vs. Sergio Garcia -- Round 11: Good uppercut landed by Fundora early in the round and he kept the straight left coming behind it as an effective shot. Garcia is not active enough to overcome the tactics of Fundora. Garcia did land a few good punches but Fundora landed a flurry of straight shots to slow Garcia back down. Neither man has seemed close to being stopped through the fight, even as both have landed good overhands and uppercuts, including in Round 11. Heading into the final round, it seems clear Garcia needs to find a way to change that and knock Fundora out.

[Dec 5, 2021 at 10:53 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Sebastian Fundora vs. Sergio Garcia -- Round 10: Garcia tried to come forward again but Fundora had success early in the round sticking with long punches and circling away to prevent getting trapped against the ropes. Garcia threw a few uppercuts that landed but this was a solid round for Fundora as he kept the action slow. Not a normal Fundora fight but he's shown the ability and willingness to stick to boxing for the most part and not allow a brawl to break out.