Why Aussie world champion Ebanie Bridges backs Ryan Garcia to shock Gervonta Davis

Ebanie Bridges believes the bookmakers are in for a shock this weekend, with Australian boxing superstar backing Ryan Garcia to shock Gervonta Davis.

Garcia, 24, will meet longtime foe Davis, 28, in Las Vegas on Saturday night, with the pair going through a bitter rivalry since fans put them on a collision course at the top of boxing.

With 26 of his 28 professional wins coming via knockout, many fear Garcia will be another name to add to Davis’ long list of victims, but world champion Bridges thinks many are overlooking the underdog, including Davis.

‘I think Tank [Davis] underestimate him,” Bridges told Mail Sport. “He underestimates his own [Garcia’s] power and punch.

Undefeated American Garcia (pictured after beating Javier Fortuna by knockout last year) is underrated according to Bridges

“I believe Ryan’s mentality is something special, and in boxing the mental game is very important.

“Not only that, but Garcia has speed and great feet, he’s taller and can box.”

Bridges laid out the blueprint that could take the 24-year-old to victory in what is sure to be a battle between boxing spirits and physicality.

“I know Ryan is talking about his left hook and so is Tank, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Ryan plans to use his left hook to finish off Tank with his right.

“It will be an exciting fight and, frankly, I can see both fighters getting knocked out.

“But I think the fact that Ryan is underrated can be used to his advantage. Tank could be shocked by Ryan’s speed and power and it will be interesting to see how he handles that.

“I don’t see Ryan being shocked by Tank’s power at all, though.”

On Thursday, Davis accused Garcia’s adviser of “begging” him not to make a bet that would see the winner of the fight take the entire purse.

The fighters made headlines leading up to the fight after Garcia refused his opponent’s challenge to accept a deal where the winner would get 100 percent of the prize for the fight.

“I’m definitely trying to make it official,” Davis said Thursday when asked about the bet, which was made via social media earlier this week.

“His adviser called to beg not to let that happen. He was scared.’

Davis said he wanted the bet to happen, but now “it’s not.”

Garcia insisted he too wanted to make the winner-all-all bet official, but he doesn’t have the heart to take Davis’s wallet in case he knocks out the Baltimore native.

‘I am a man of my word. I said it and I was ready, and I told everyone let’s just do it. Do what he wants. Let’s go.’

The reigning IBF world bantamweight champion could see both fighters knocked out in Las Vegas, but believes Garcia’s ‘special’ mentality gives him an edge

Garcia then walked back his statement: “I wouldn’t do it to him anyway.” Even if I knock him out, I’m not going to take the money from him.’

The exact purses have not yet been reported, but both fighters are expected to reach a minimum of seven figures.

The two also bickered over a rehydration clause, which sought to ban the fighters from adding more than 10 pounds after breaking the 136-pound weight limit at Friday’s weigh-in.

While Garcia is taller and could potentially add more weight for Saturday’s fight, it is widely believed that the clause is intended to limit Davis’ prodigious power in the ring.

“Are you or aren’t you a 135 fighter?” Davis asked the lightweight Garcia and suggested the California native had no reason to apply for a rehydration clause.