The stage is set for Gervonta “Tank” Davis as to whether or not he’s ready to crossover and become a pay-per-view fighter.

Davis, the WBA lightweight titlist, will be entering his first pay-per-view in an intriguing matchup against WBA junior lightweight titlist Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz on October 31, on Showtime PPV fight (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

Davis (23-0, 22 knockouts) and Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) met with the media on Tuesday to discuss how the fight came about and what each fighter is expecting.

Davis, the three-time, two-division titlist, was on the Zoom call with Santa Cruz, the four-division titlist, future Hall of Famer Floyd Mayweather, President of Mayweather Promotions, Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions and Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc.

The fight is contracted at 130.

That seemed to be the most pressing issue, since Davis has a history of weight issues. In August 2017, Davis relinquished the IFB junior featherweight title on the scales against Francisco Fonseca.

Last December against Yuriorkis Gamboa, Davis needed two tries to make 135 in his lightweight debut.

“Gervonta Davis definitely will make the weight,” Davis himself declared. “This camp has been great for me. I’m already at weight as you can see. I’m working hard; I’m not big. Our camp is not worrying about weight. Our camp is worrying about getting ready for Leo Santa Cruz.”

Santa Cruz stated the Davis is a strong fighter for the first four or five rounds, but after that, he gets tired.

“Tank Davis is dangerous for the first four or five rounds, the most dangerous will be one-through-six, but he is dangerous every round,” Santa Cruz said. “I stand by that. I’m going to have watch out in all of the rounds until the last bell rings. He can catch me in any round, but if I think he gases out in the first few rounds, I’m going to go out on top of him and pressure him, break him down and get him tired.”

Davis laughed off that assertion.

“Most of them don’t last the second part of the fight,” Davis said. “They all go down in one through six, probably seven. Look at my last fight, I knocked out Gamboa in the 12th round. They can say whatever they want. They’re going to have to prove it once we get in October 31.”

For over a year, Mayweather and Ellerbe often spoke about why Davis deserved to be on pay-per-view.

“It’s very important that the timing couldn’t be better,” Ellerbe said. “Tank is one of the biggest draws in boxing right now. Timing couldn’t be better when it comes to Leo Santa Cruz.”

Mayweather feels Davis’ fanbase is growing, and Santa Cruz has a large following in California, Texas and Los Angeles.

Even Santa Cruz feels Davis will make 130.

“I think he will make weight,” Santa Cruz said. “He looks in great shape. The last fight he didn’t make weight, it was Thanksgiving Day, it was around Christmas, when everyone likes to eat. I think he’s going to come ready.”

Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Magazine/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be followed on twitter @JSantoliquito.

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