Gervonta Davis took to social media to complain that Turki Shaikh did not invite him to the Ring Awards event in London last Saturday. Davis seemed bitter about not being one of the fighters invited by Turki.

Turki’s choice

WBA lightweight champion Tank Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) said Sheikh only invited people he “deals with.” What really shocked him was seeing Shakur Stevenson One of the fighters pictured with Turki.

Shakur features prominently in the photo, indicating his high status as a warrior within the group. Devin Haney Ryan Garcia was also invited.

This must have got Tank boiling because he doesn’t rate Shakur, who tends to get booed when he fights. He’s not in the same league as Gervonta when it comes to entertaining, selling tickets, and being a PPV attraction. Shakur is a retro Mayweather-esque early 2000s type who seems out of place in an era where boxers must entertain otherwise.

However, Shakur’s signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom means he will be invited to compete in Turki’s events next month, on February 22, on his Riyadh season card. If Tank Davis was with Hearn, he would definitely be invited. Shakur said in an interview on Saturday that Turki would soon schedule a fight between him and Tank Davis.

“Why didn’t they invite everyone but whoever they were dealing with. F*** get out of here…look what that little mouse thought he thought (Eddie Hearn) tell them now Everybody was fighting each other because their rosters were heavy,” Tank Davis said on X.

Tank Davis has said in the past that Turki Sheikh needs “two Ferraris” delivered to his front door as a starting point for negotiations to compete for one of his cards. That didn’t happen.

“If they wanted me, they’d have to send something to my front door … like two Ferraris or something,” Tank Davis said in an interview.

Who comes in, who goes out

Fans who take a negative view will think that Turki has created a small club or clique of fighters who he selects and pays dearly for his huge cards.

Fighters who aren’t invited are left behind and don’t get the same attention to develop their careers. They’re on the fringes and don’t make the big money because they’re not in the club.

In sociology, there are “Within the group” and “Outgroup.” Cliques form within the group, get invited to parties, and generally get the best. The “out-group” is not allowed into the in-group unless it has done something that sets it apart, such as being successful at something.