It’s hard to think. Outside of Canelo, one name that comes to mind when discussing boxing’s biggest draws is Gervonta Davis. Like the Mexican superstar, the Baltimorean has the style, the charisma, and perhaps one thing the former lacks: that killer firepower. With 93% of his 31 opponents stopped inside the distance, Tank remains one of the sport’s foremost finishers. So it’s difficult to fathom when he talks about retirement. It must have taken extraordinary circumstances to push him toward an inglorious exit. Or, as it appears, he’s simply too tired of everything.

As is his wont, Gervonta Davis deletes his posts soon after posting them. Still, his poignant message was hard to miss: “Boxing is dead. I am [retiring] in 8 weeks,” his latest message read. The timing couldn’t have been more striking; just a month before he’s set to face Jake Paul in a Miami exhibition. Perhaps the backlash from the Roach fight and the scrutiny that followed his decision to face a cruiserweight YouTuber-turned-boxer proved too hard to handle. For the record, Tank had already hinted at retirement. Still, a few, even those not on the best of terms with him, feel he should reconsider before it’s too late.

Gervonta Davis isn’t done yet

Not many would have expected this, even in their dreams. Given their on-and-off beefing, one might have thought Claressa Shields would be glad to see Gervonta Davis finally leave boxing. But no. The self-proclaimed GWOAT wants the lightweight champion to stay put. He still has some unfinished business to attend to.

Speaking with Gillie and Wallo on Million Dollaz Worth of Game, she said, “Gervonta got skills out of this world. He’s a scary dude. He’s scary. Ain’t no way he says he is supposed to come back and get Shakur, Devin, Ryan, and Teofimo—whoop, all these. He’s like, now he’s like, “I’m about to retire after I fight Jake.”

Her reasoning is simple. Given the way some of the stars, like Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney, and Ryan Garcia, have spoken about Tank, he ought to come back and face them. “The way that these dudes are talking, he’s supposed to come back and get them,” she said before asking, “He’s the man, right?”

In a similar situation, if someone challenged her, she’d definitely come back for a fight, Shields asserted.

Tank’s next war: Pick your fighter

Intrigued, Gillie promptly asked the million-dollar question: “Who you think could beat Gervonta Davis?”  And the two-time Olympic gold medalist didn’t mince words: “I think Shakur beat Gervonta Davis.” There’s one more name she felt has the skills to beat Tank – Devin Haney.  Haney can clearly outbox Davis. But if he comes within the latter’s range, then there’s a big possibility of Haney being in for a ‘long night.’

As she usually does, Shields later stood by her words when excerpts and clips appeared online, “I said what I said 😈”

Many believe Gervonta Davis is going through a low phase in his life. Even Shakur Stevenson talked about retiring last year. For a boxer admired as much for his skill as for his punching power, it feels too early to hang up the gloves. If not Shakur Stevenson or Devin Haney, he should at least consider a rematch with Lamont Roach Jr.

Their March outing likely became the catalyst for the wave of criticism against Davis. Plans for a rematch with Roach Jr. seemingly fizzled out, replaced instead by news of the Jake Paul exhibition. The development left fans and pundits alike aghast, firing incessant jibes and potshots at him.

Perhaps, as Shields suggested, there’s still time for Gervonta Davis to rethink, recalibrate, and come back to reclaim his glory.

If Tank decides to stay, who should he fight first – the rematch with Roach Jr., or should he call out Shakur Stevenson for a title unification?