Bruce Dias 
Gervonta Davis returns to action on March 1 at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn, New York
He puts his WBA ‘Super’ Lightweight title on the line against Lamont Roach who is stepping up in weight for this bout. While we’d love to see ‘Tank’ in a higher profile contest, this match against the WBA Super Featherweight champion is an intriguing one.
The challenger last lost a professional fight six years ago. That was a loss to Jamel Herring in a bout for the WBO Super Featherweight title. Since that loss, Roach has won six fights in a row and has held the WBA version of that division’s world title in late 2023 with a split-decision win over Hector Luis Garcia. More about that opponent later in this article.
As you might expect, Roach is the outsider to give Davis his first professional defeat. He isn’t someone who fights on a regular basis. 2021 was the last time he had two fights in the same calendar year. He’s only had one inside-the-distance win since 2019 (his only defence of his world title ) with just ten in his 27 professional fights.
It’s almost a no-lose situation for the challenger. A win over Davis would totally change his career. All those big fights that Davis could be involved in might suddenly head in his direction instead. Lose and he can just go back to his usual weight division and defend his title later this year.
He’s been in a tough training camp preparing himself for the toughest fight of his professional career. Stepping up in weight is never easy though, especially when facing a boxer such as Davis who has stopped 28 of his 30 opponents.
Only Isaac Cruz and German Ivan Meraz have gone the distance with Davis. This is the defending champion’s first bout since beating Frank Martin in eight rounds last June. Davis was only a point ahead with all three judges but then his punching power ensured Martin didn’t reach the ninth round.
Why is he fighting Roach in March? Critics have already been having a field day accusing Davis of dodging top contenders and the other champions in the Lightweight division. Comments by former undisputed Lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez – who has criticised the standard of the opponents he’s been stopping – show he’s not the most loved fighter in the division.
It seems that one of the most popular claims by a boxer is that they’re going to retire soon. Davis is no exception and says he won’t be fighting after this year comes to an end. He wants three fights this year, so who will the other two be against?
Davis v WBC champion Shakur Stevenson v Davis is a fight fans want to see and a unification fight with IBF title holder Vasyl Lomachenko would grab the interest of boxing fans and those who love to gamble on the sport.
Finally fighting Stevenson is a possibility or perhaps a rematch with Ryan Garcia? One problem Davis faces is his previous negative comments about boxers who fight for megabucks in Saudi Arabia. That includes Stevenson who faces Floyd Schofield on February 22. If he wants a big money fight later this year, it’ll either have to be in the US or some humble pie will have to be eaten on his way to Saudi Arabia.
Betting is so exciting because one punch can see the odds on offer totally change. Betting in-play with tested sportsbook bonus codes in New York is a thrilling experience and a favorite can suddenly become an outsider within seconds. With someone like Davis, the feeling is a fight could end at any time. Davis is short at -1800 to win this fight with Roach at +920.
Better odds can be seen for other markets such as whether the fight will end inside the distance. Davis is still heavily tipped to do that and is -380 at the time of writing this article with Roach +1300.
What round the fight will end in can be a profitable market. Davis is +3300 to win in round one but he hasn’t won a fight before the sixth round since 2019.
It’s not the fight most fans would like to see Davis involved in. However, that’s not to say we won’t be in for an intriguing fight in March. If Roach can stay out of trouble (a big if), then who knows what might happen.
