“Look what Tank will do” – Superstar Gervonta Davis returning to face Lamont Roach sparks mixed reactions

With special permission from the WBA, super featherweight champion Lamont Roach will take on lightweight champion Gervonta Davis.

“Look what Tank will do” – Superstar Gervonta Davis returning to face Lamont Roach sparks mixed reactions

Gervonta Davis is set to fight Lamont Roach (Image via Imago/Instagram)

WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis recently received a reprieve from his mandatory title defense. Instead of Albert Batyrgaziev, he will now face WBA super featherweight champion Lamont Roach, with special permission granted by the WBA. The bout set for later this year will become Davis’ second bout of the year.

Lamont Roach’s promotional team, NoXcuse Boxing Promotions, submitted a formal request in September. They sought permission to step up the weight class and pursue this fight. The WBA’s Championships Committee approved the request and will remain as the super featherweight champion. The fight with Gervonta Davis is being targeted for later this year, with two potential dates in December.

While the venue is not confirmed, many arenas float as potential options. Meanwhile, Roach is from Upper Marlboro, a suburb of Washington, D.C.. This proximity could lead to a packed arena over there, as both fighters have strong local followings. Roach is stepping up from the 130-pound division to challenge Davis at 135 pounds. His record is solid, with a six-fight winning streak. 

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Vasiliy Lomachenko previously withdrew from negotiations for a potential fight with Gervonta Davis. The Ukrainian stated that he is unmotivated and wants to spend more time with his family. On the other hand, Shakur Stevenson sustained a hand injury during training, which forced him to pull out of his scheduled bout against Joe Cordina.

With both Lomachenko and Stevenson sidelined, Davis is now looking at Roach. He last fought in June, knocking out Frank Martin in the eighth round. Before that, he defeated Ryan Garcia in one of the biggest fights of 2023. On the other hand, Roach recently defended his WBA super featherweight title in June, scoring a stoppage victory over Feargal McCrory.

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Netizens react to prospective Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach showdown

The prospective fight between Lamont Roach and Gervonta Davis caught the attention of fans on social media. Many of the fans didn’t appreciate the new matchmaking. However, considering the lack of options like Lomachenko and Stevenson, this was the only available option.

Netizens react to Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach
Netizens react to Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach (Image via Imago/X)

People went to the comment section to share their thoughts and reactions to the potential showdown. Here are some of the reactions from X:

This bout will also influence the mandatory title defense obligations for both fighters. If Roach wins, he will have five days to decide whether to remain in the lightweight division or drop back down to defend his title at super featherweight. A loss would put him on a 120-day deadline to defend his 130-pound title against Albert Batyrgaziev. For Davis, this fight represents a temporary relief from his mandatory duties. But he is still ranked as the WBA’s top lightweight and one of the best pound-for-pound boxers today.