Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis narrowly avoided defeat with a majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr., retaining his WBA lightweight title. Davis, a prominent figure in boxing alongside Canelo Alvarez, faced a surprisingly tough challenge from Roach, an opponent many expected him to overcome easily. The fight, ending in a draw (30-0-1, 28 KOs), left spectators questioning if ‘Tank’ might be slightly overrated.
Despite the setback, Davis remains undefeated, although his reputation took a slight hit after Saturday night’s event in Brooklyn, New York. It’s common for even top boxers to have fights that are closer than predicted. The negative perception from this fight will eventually fade, and attention will turn to what’s next for this major boxing star.
The immediate question is: Should Davis grant Roach a rematch?
This is a complex issue. Currently, most viewers of the fight would agree that Roach deserves an immediate second chance against Davis. Roach exceeded expectations, and many believe his fighting style troubled Davis. After the match, Davis initially expressed willingness for a rematch but seemed less enthusiastic at the post-fight press conference.
‘A rematch with Roach probably won’t happen this year,’ Davis stated. ‘It’s definitely the fight I want next, but it won’t be immediately next.’
Few would favor Roach in a potential rematch. Instead, criticism would likely fall on Davis for underestimating Roach initially. The expectation for a rematch would be that Davis would perform as expected in the first fight and secure a clear victory. While some argue Roach was unfairly judged, the fight was undeniably close. It was reminiscent of Floyd Mayweather’s first bout with Jose Luis Castillo in 2002, where many felt Castillo did enough to defeat Mayweather for the first time. Mayweather won by decision and then convincingly won the rematch seven months later.
However, the situations differ. Mayweather was an emerging star then, while ‘Tank’ is already established. A rematch offers little gain for Davis beyond personal satisfaction. Roach isn’t a major draw, limiting the financial benefits. Unless Davis feels compelled to correct his performance, he’s likely to forgo a rematch and explore other options.
So, who are his other potential opponents?
A significant match-up with Shakur Stevenson would be a major event, pitting an offensive powerhouse against a defensive expert. However, Stevenson’s alignment with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and Turki Alalshikh, a key figure in Saudi Arabian boxing, complicates making this fight. Davis has expressed reservations about working with Alalshikh, making a Stevenson fight seem unlikely, at least for now. The same applies to 140-pound champion Teofimo Lopez Jr., who is scheduled for a May 2 event in Times Square alongside Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia.
This leaves Davis with limited options at 140 pounds within Premier Boxing Champions. He could aim for a world title against WBC junior welterweight champion Alberto Puello, who won on the undercard. However, a title at 140 pounds might generate less interest for ‘Tank’ than a Roach rematch. A unification fight at 135 pounds with Top Rank’s Keyshawn Davis would appeal to dedicated boxing fans, but the WBO lightweight champion is still building his mainstream recognition. A fight with Vasiliy Lomachenko is also improbable, as Lomachenko is considering retirement. Yet, a Davis-Lomachenko fight would still be significant if the 37-year-old chooses to fight again.
Currently, there are no obvious choices for Davis’s next fight. Unless he is willing to work with Alalshikh, securing a high-profile opponent for a larger payday than a Roach rematch will be challenging. He could face a less known fighter, but fans are becoming impatient with Davis not competing against the top contenders in the 135 to 140-pound divisions.
The reality is that Davis’s popularity is strong enough to fill arenas (19,250 attendees on Saturday) and attract solid pay-per-view numbers even without a top-tier opponent. He might eventually seek a Roach rematch simply because the draw result is bothering him.
We will have to see how he feels next month.