Gervonta Davis’s reported new trainer, Jose Benavidez Sr., has shut down any possibility of a rematch with Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. Benavidez Sr. believes there is no need for a second fight, asserting Davis would secure a stoppage victory this time around.
Davis is preparing for a return to the ring later this year following a layoff since March 2025. The potential change in his corner, moving from long-time coach Calvin Ford to the father of three-division champion David Benavidez, signals a clear shift in strategy. The first encounter with Cruz in 2021 was a competitive unanimous decision win for Davis, and Benavidez Sr. sees no reason to revisit one of the toughest fights of his new charge’s career. Instead, the focus is on re-establishing dominance, not settling old scores. Benavidez Sr. made his position clear on the matter.
He stated: “There’s no f**king way Tank Davis is gonna give Pitbull a rematch – there’s no need for it. I think Gervonta won [their first fight] fair and square.”
The comments suggest the new camp wants a definitive, highlight-reel performance for Davis’s comeback. A grueling fight against a durable opponent like Cruz does not fit that objective. Benavidez Sr. expressed confidence that a second fight would end differently, underscoring the power he believes Davis possesses. “I’m a Mexican – I like Pitbull – but I think Gervonta would stop him [in a rematch]. He’s just a f**king animal; he’s a monster.”
With a Cruz rematch seemingly off the table, the question turns to who Davis will face next. Negotiations for a fight against Floyd Schofield reportedly fell through, an opportunity that would have allowed Davis to reclaim his WBA title. As Davis prepares for his return after dealing with out-of-ring legal issues, his team’s dismissal of a Cruz fight indicates they are carefully managing his path back to the top of the division. The priority is a decisive win, not a risky sequel.
