Boxing Showdown: Roach vs. Davis
In a significant boxing showdown, Lamont Roach Jr. faced Gervonta “Tank” Davis for the WBA lightweight title on March 1, 2025, at the Barclays Center in New York City. Though Roach was seen as the underdog, he managed to clinch a contentious draw against Davis that sparked considerable debate. However, the anticipated rematch failed to materialize, leading fans and analysts alike to express disappointment.
Rematch Controversy
In a recent discussion on The Ariel Helwani Show hosted by Uncrowned, Roach openly lamented that the rematch came undone after Davis opted to enter a now-canceled exhibition fight with Jake Paul, despite having a contractual obligation for a return bout with Roach. Roach recounted the sequence of events that derailed their rematch, revealing that Davis initially activated his rematch clause but subsequently chose to fight Paul instead, a decision Roach believes violated their agreement.
“If he wouldn’t have veered off, it would’ve happened,” Roach stated, indicating that their original boxing match was slated for June.
He noted that following their first encounter, both fighters signed the contract, only for the date to be pushed back amidst Davis’s fluctuating commitments to training and an alarming July arrest due to new domestic violence charges.
Roach reflected that the contractual stipulation tied Davis to fight solely against him, yet the announcement of the bout with Paul was inconsistent with those obligations. The arrangement eventually led Roach to consider legal options, including the possibility of arbitration. Luckily for Roach, he received financial compensation for the lack of a rematch due to Premier Boxing Champions’ involvement.
Looking Ahead
Now aligning with PBC, Roach is preparing for a different challenge against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz for the WBC interim super lightweight title this Saturday in San Antonio, Texas. Despite the setback with Davis, Roach’s team ensured they would remain active fighters regardless of the rematch’s fallout.
Compounding the complexities, Davis hinted earlier in December 2024 that 2025 would be his final year in boxing, leaving fans speculating whether Roach’s fight with him would indeed mark the end of Davis’s professional career. Reflecting on Davis’s disillusionment with the sport and the emphasis on financial gain over championship accolades, Roach expressed a degree of belief that Davis may follow through with his retirement plans.
Reflections on the First Fight
The controversy of their initial fight further heightens the stakes for a rematch, as Roach believes a key moment in the ninth round—an uncounted knockdown due to referee Steve Willis‘s mishandling—substantially impacted the outcome. Roach claimed that officials even acknowledged the incident as a knockdown but ultimately refrained from changing the fight’s outcome.
“The ninth round was a real disappointment,” Roach recalled, expressing frustration over the perceived favoritism shown to Davis during that critical moment in the match. “It was just wrong; some get special treatment, and we see that again and again in boxing. It’s frustrating, but we have to move on.”
As Roach aims to erase the past and secure his own victory against Cruz, he remains focused on making his mark in the sport, albeit with lingering hopes that the injustice of the past might one day be rectified.
