On December 14, junior lightweight champion Lamont Roach Jr. will face Gervonta “Tank” Davis in Houston. Although many critics have pointed out the weight difference between the two, Roach does not believe it will affect the outcome of the fight. This bout will be for Davis’ WBA title in a pay-per-view event (PPV).
Roach explained in an interview with Naji Grampus of Cigar Talk that, despite critics’ opinions, Davis is not the biggest lightweight. “Everybody he fights is damn near bigger than him,” Roach said. “The only person that was smaller than him was Isaac Cruz. And that’s just in height.”
Even though Lamont Roach currently competes in the 130-pound division, his plan was always to move up to 135 pounds to capture another title.
“I fight at 130 because that’s where I campaign at. That’s where I started my career. That’s where I worked my way up to a world title,” Roach explained. He also made it clear that the decision to move up came earlier than expected. However, he feels ready to face Davis in this new weight class.
Lamont Roach, who holds a record of 25 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw, has competed at the 130-pound limit since 2017. Before that, he weighed around 131 or 132 pounds, though in his early professional fights, he weighed more than 134 pounds.
“When a boxer is starting their career, they don’t necessarily have to make 130 pounds because we’re not in title contention or none of that,” Roach explained.
On the other hand, Gervonta Davis, a 29-year-old from Baltimore, has had a notable career, moving across various divisions. Davis began as a featherweight in 2013, but it was in 2017 that he established himself in the junior lightweight division after knocking out José Pedraza for a world title. Since then, he has fought in several weight classes, including lightweight and junior welterweight, before returning to 135 pounds.
Both fighters have a slight height difference. Roach stands at 1.70 meters, while Davis is 1.65 meters tall, reinforcing the idea that the physical difference will not be a decisive factor in the fight. Lamont Roach emphasized that his opponent feels comfortable at 135 pounds but doesn’t consider him a big lightweight.
Boxing Social is now on WhatsApp! Join our channel by clicking here and getting all the latest boxing news direct to your phone.