Another stellar matchup is set for this Saturday evening as Gervonta Davis defends his WBA lightweight championship against Lamont Roach Jr. at the Barclays Center. Originally set for December in Houston, the fight is now on track for a rumble in Brooklyn. “Tank” Davis is coming off a victory over Frank Martin in a fight from June of last year at the MGM Grand Arena. While both fighters were coming into the bout after a one-year layoff, Davis won the fight outright, retaining his title by 8th-round knockout. Meanwhile, Roach is coming off his own empathic victory in 2024, scoring a TKO eighth-round win over Feargal McCrory to retain his WBA super-featherweight title. With a current record of 25-1-1, “The Reaper” certainly has the credentials to tangle with Davis as he is moving up weight classes from super featherweight for the championship opportunity.
In this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each fighter along with some additional notes and information regarding boxing wagering picks and beyond.
A sensational competitor, Tank is an accomplished performer and has earned a variety of accolades in his career thanks to his stout record of 30-0 with 28 knockout wins. Per reports, he has held the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title since 2023, having previously held the Regular version from 2019 to 2023. Additionally, he has also held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super featherweight title in 2017, and the WBA super featherweight title (Super version) twice between 2018 and 2020. Finally, he has also held the WBA Super Lightweight title (Regular version) back in 2021.
As of last year, Davis is ranked as the world’s second-best active lightweight by ESPN, first by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and second by The Ring magazine. In his bout prior to Martin, Davis faced Ryan Garcia in a catchweight bout in Las Vegas in April 2023. Per one source, Davis defeated Garcia via knockout in the seventh round after a body punch resulted in his opponent falling to beat the count. In a moment of controversy, Garcia waited for the referee to finish the count and then immediately got up, resulting in boxing media labeling him as a quitter. Earlier in this matchup, Davis had knocked Garcia down with a heavy punch in the second round and throughout the fight, the champion was “comfortably ahead” on all three judges’ scorecards.
As the WBA super featherweight champion since 2023, Roach has had a sensational professional and amateur boxing career. Noted in one article, Roach was a decorated amateur fighter, winning gold medals at the National Golden Gloves and USA Boxing Youth National Championships in 2013. He would turn pro the following year and went undefeated in his first 20 fights (19 wins, one draw), collecting three minor belts in the process. While he lost to Jamel Herring via unanimous decision back in November 2019 in a bid for the WBO super featherweight title, he has since scored six consecutive victories.
In one particular fight of note, Roach was booked to face the former WBA (Regular) super featherweight champion Rene Alvarado for the WBA-NABA super-featherweight title. He would go on to win the fight via unanimous decision and two judges scored the fight 98-92 for Roach, while the third judge awarded him a 100-90 scorecard.
The challenger has had a spectacular pro career to date, taking on multiple foes and besting them in high-stakes situations. For instance, by the beginning of 2018, Roach had a record of 16-0 and then faced Orlando Cruz in a split-card decision. Three months later, he defeated Deivus Julio Bassa for the still-vacant WBO International belt in Cancun. By the beginning of 2019, he had moved up to No. 2 in the WBO rankings. Of course, this will be a staunch matchup with Davis, but Roach does have some raw power as evidenced by his 10 knockout victories to date.
In what should be an excellent showdown, take Tank to score the win here in Brooklyn. With a stronger body of work and resume, Davis should be able to lock down the victory. Additionally, both competitors have had a similar amount of time off, so they will be on an even playing field as far as ring “rust” goes.
Once you are all up to speed in relation to the latest boxing updates and analysis coming from SBS, make sure to check out the excellent array of information for you at the site. Of course, for even more info on the topic covered here, the boxing betting sites rundown has your back with all of the latest markets and information coming from the sport. Additionally, for those interested in maximizing their wagers and who qualify, the best bonus betting sites breakdown is a fantastic page to peruse. Here, eligible customers can find a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers available to you. Finally, for those on the go, the best betting apps guide is a great resource for eligible customers to learn more about the nuances of mobile betting and how you can stay on top of the action.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
Read Chris's ProfileAsk Chris about this guide:
