We want steak But it looks like we might have to give in to eating fish.
Not the main course we were hoping for But it shouldn’t leave a bad taste in our mouths. At least I didn’t get the situation. And it’s definitely better than being hungry.
That is the scenario for Gervonta “Tank” Davis’ next fight, which could end up pitting the WBA lightweight champion against WBA lightweight champion Lamont Roche. Junior, nothing is official yet. Except for boxing reporter Dan Rafael. Just said it’s possible. for pay-per-view on December 21, as ESPN’s Mike Coppinger said Roach Lead the landing in battle.–
It’s fair to be disappointed by that news.
It’s fair to want a better opponent for Davis.
It’s unfair to blame Davis. At least not this time.
Davis (30-0, 28 KO) has become one of boxing’s biggest stars with his clear talent and mesmerizing performances that showcase his skill and in-ring savvy and power. Change his battle Video of Davis’ eighth round victory over Frank. Martin on June 15, Posted by Premier Boxing Champions on July 15. It has reached 5.8 million views on YouTube.–
Martin was unbeaten and ranked in the top 10 in the lightweight division in that bout. In the past few years There are other respectable enemies. Attacked and eliminated by Davis. Some of which look better in retrospect, such as the 11th round technical knockout of Mario’s tank. Barrios in June 2021 and a unanimous decision over Isaac “Pitbull Cruz in December 2021.
Barrios, who was a junior welterweight at the time. Has moved up to 147th, defeating Yordenis Ugas and being crowned world champion. Cruz scored 140 points and took down Rolando Romero, another former Davis victim. to win the WBA belt, Cruz recently lost that title to Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (more on Valenzuela later in this column).
But boxing fans would like to see Davis move beyond the second level and test his abilities against other top fighters at 135. There are reasons why those fights haven’t happened over the years.
This time they were busy.
The other world titles were won by Vasily Lomachenko (IBF), Shakur Stevenson (WBC) and Denis Berinchik (WBO). Negotiations between Davis and Lomachenko ended when Lomachenko’s team said. He doesn’t want to return to the ring for the rest of the year.That he has no motivation to fight and prefers to spend time with his family.
The news is disappointing but not surprising. Considering Lomachenko’s long career stretching back to his days as an amateur, Considering what we’ve heard from him and how little we’ve seen of him yet.
Lomachenko fought just once in 2022, winning a decision over Jamaine Ortiz. He fought just once in 2023, challenging Devin Haney for the undisputed lightweight championship. and overturned a close decision that some felt might have gone in Lomachenko’s favor, and he will end 2024 with just one fight, stopping Jorge Kambosos Jr. in May for the vacant IBF belt.
In the post-fight interview, Lomachenko dedicated the victory to his father, who played an important role in his career.
“This is his position. Because after Haney I want to finish my boxing career.” Lomachenko said.– “After the fight with Haney I have proven myself in this sport. And I didn’t have to stay, but my father, every day he would send me news. And every time he sent me my last fight, the highlight, and I felt like he wanted to stay. He wanted to win the championship again. And he told me, ‘Hey, we have to do this again.’ We need to fight again for the title.’ And it was a difficult decision for me because I was tired. But I love my family. I love my father I respect my father. My father built me around boxing in life. And this is the title. This is a victory for my father.”
Stevenson is a free agent after leaving Top Rank. Finally signed with Matchroom and Announcing a fight with former junior lightweight titleholder Joe Cordina. In the October 12 undercard game of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, Stevenson was injured in practice and had to withdraw from the Cordina fight. He is expected to return in 2025.
Berinchyk doesn’t have the name value or seem to have the qualities that Lomachenko and Stevenson have.
William Zepeda, who is ranked as the No. 1 competitor in all four major international events Stevenson initially refused the fight. It was reported that this was because his wife was about to give birth.– But Zepeda has since signed a contract for a November fight with former junior lightweight titleholder Tevin Farmer.
Some thought Cruz would get a rematch with Davis. Cruz competed against Davis in the first fight. And is one of only two men who can stand on the same level as Tank. (It should be noted here that Davis is battling a hand injury.)
That belief disappeared as soon as Cruz lost to Valenzuela in August. Valenzuela won’t just take Cruz’s seat. But also inherit this opportunity?
“Right now I have a rematch clause (with Cruz), so hold on. But without Teofimo (Lopez) and the other (140-pound) champions.” Valenzuela recently told FaceOfBoxingTV– As for the rumor that he denies fighting with Davis? “It’s not really an offer. It was more like I was just being asked about tanks. I said it wasn’t in ’35 and we never paid any attention to it. No details or nothing at all I don’t know if you considered that offer or not. But that is what happened.”
Valenzuela has been fighting in the 135-pound weight class for most of his career. And he was a lightweight last December. But he isn’t wrong if he feels junior welterweight is better for his body. And Davis cannot be faulted for his desire to remain a lightweight for now. Even though he reached 140 points before the Barrios fight.
That leaves Davis with few options. And none of these options are particularly attractive among the lightweight models. Once you get past the other three title holders and Zepeda, the rest of the rankings follow. The Ring Magazine and International Boxing Ranking Committee The majority consists of prospects still developing (Raymond Muratalla, Keyshawn Davis, Andy Cruz, Zaur Abdullaev) or those who have recently flopped (Kambosos and Martin).
Edwin de los Santos was not ranked by those observers. But he was rated by the WBA and thus allowed to challenge for the belt. De los Santos scored a victory over Valenzuela in 2022, although he hit a knockdown Valenzuela first. This page only once. However, his last fight was a decision loss to Stevenson in November 2023.
With a small footprint at 135, there was room for Roach to enter from 130th Street and from the streets of Washington, D.C.
That is another reason for this fight.
If Tank can’t compete with one of the top lightweights, And if he doesn’t want to be alone For the remainder of 2024, a fight with Roche is an acceptable option. Or at least it’s as good as we can make it. Even if it doesn’t satisfy us the same way we would a steak dinner.
Roach (25-1-1, 10 KO) has won six straight since losing just one. The decision went to Jamel Herring in 2019. His biggest victory came last November when Roach edged Hector Garcia by split decision to win the world title. Garcia is another former enemy of Tank. Davis stopped him in nine rounds in January 2023 at lightweight, about 10 months before Garcia lost to Roche.
Roach’s improvements are worth following. It’s still hard to imagine him causing Tank too much trouble, but the fight could take place and be held in Davis’ hometown of Baltimore or, more likely, in D.C. itself. Even though it’s Roach’s hometown, it’s also where Davis headlines his fight with Hector Garcia, so the fight will do well at the box office.
Pay-per-view is another question. Davis is one of the biggest stars in the United States. Some people may buy broadcasts just to watch him perform. Opponents will consider it less (if not at all). For everyone else, the prospect of Davis vs. Roach might be interesting enough to pursue. But it’s not enough to conclude.
Boxing fans can and should talk to their wallets. Just because a fight is happening doesn’t mean you have to buy it. If you really don’t want to eat fish You can choose not to eat in the restaurant until the steak is available again.
For Davis, just because he doesn’t have a big fight doesn’t mean he should wait on the sidelines. I want tanks to return to the battlefield. Even if it was just to break through and overthrow an unarmed enemy. It’s better than sitting around collecting rust.
David Greisman, who has been covering boxing since 2004, is on Twitter. @FightingWords2 and @United BoxingPod– He is a co-host of United Podcast– David’s bookFighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing” Available on Amazon
