Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach Jnr are finally ready to run it back.
BoxingScene has confirmed that their WBA lightweight title fight rematch is set to headline an August 16 PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View event. TGB Promotions has a hold on T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the date, though the final location remains undetermined as this goes to publication.
Brunch Boxing’s Matthew “Bellini” Brown was the first to report the date for their second act.
Davis, 30-0-1 (28 KOs), and Roach, 25-1-2 (10 KOs), fought to a majority draw on March 1 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The venue was previously considered to host the rematch when it was originally budgeted to take place in mid-to-late June. Las Vegas is now believed to be the likely destination, whether at T-Mobile Arena or the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
BoxingScene has also learned that the event is one of at least three premium shows planned by PBC in the coming months.
As previously reported, a July 19 date is in play for the widely discussed Mario Barrios-Manny Pacquiao WBC welterweight title fight. Additionally, efforts are being made to firm up an official challenger for two-division and reigning WBC light heavyweight titlist David Benavidez, 30-0 (24 KOs), atop a show targeted for October or November.
Davis-Roach I was mired in controversy, though the final scores – 115-113 Davis, 114-114 and 114-114 – were largely reflective of what took place in the ring. A case was made that Roach deserved the nod, though the decision was not considered a robbery among most objective observers.
Where Roach fell prey to questionable officiating was during a ninth-round sequence that should have altered the direction for the remainder of the fight.
Roach – who hails from the greater Washington D.C. area – connected with a jab midway through the ninth round. Baltimore’s Davis turned to look at referee Steve Willis before moving in the opposite direction to take a knee.
Not only was a knockdown never called during the sequence, but Davis was permitted to call his own timeout to have co-trainer Calvin Ford wipe what he described as hair chemicals that dripped into his eye and temporarily impacted his vision.
The extent of Willis’ discipline was severely limited to a tongue lashing at close quarters. Davis was let off easy, as he could have been disqualified for his actions – cornermen are not permitted on the ring apron during the course of a round unless summoned by a ring official.
Additionally, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) was unable to utilize instant replay reportedly due to a failure to secure footage from the Prime Video production truck prior to the start of the 10th round.
All those elements contributed to Roach losing out on a 10-8 round. Davis was awarded a 10-9 score on two of the three official cards.
Roach – who moved up from junior lightweight, where he holds the WBA title – was unable to fully capitalize on the moment and settled for a moral victory in the end by holding Davis to a draw. The final verdict was booed by the capacity crowd of 19,500, and the longshot underdog saw his stock soar as a result.
That said, Roach fully intends to have his hand raised in the forthcoming rematch.
“Man, I’m so excited about this … it’s part two, and it’s time to boogie once again,” Roach told BoxingScene and ProBox TV of the contractually-bound rematch itself, though he not in a position to validate the reported date.
Both fighters were prepared to move forward with a second fight, although Roach’s side filed a formal protest for the abovementioned in-ring concerns. The matter was reviewed by the NYSAC, who acknowledged the blown knockdown call but ultimately decided to uphold the original verdict.
Davis has been trained throughout his career by Ford, but it was veteran cornerman Barry Hunter who took the lead for this past camp and on fight night. The unbeaten two-division titlist has yet to comment on the timing of the rematch, never mind who will take the lead for this camp.
That part is of no concern to his rival.
“Whoever he may have in his corner might try to make adjustments from the first fight and do certain things,” said Roach, who is guided by his father, Lamont Roach Snr. “But we’re going to be ready to tackle the issue of taking the belt from the champ.
“Some of the close rounds [in the first fight] were scored unnecessarily for him when he wasn’t really doing anything. We’re going to come back with some new things, too. My tool bag’s big. I’m going to show versatility. I’m going to show strength, endurance and the will of a warrior.”
Roach entered the first fight essentially playing with house money. The onus was on Davis, a -1600 favorite at the time, to show up and show out. Instead, the box-office star and once-universally regarded pound-for-pound entrant was forced to endure his first career blemish, even if not an outright defeat.
“Those 12 rounds proved I already knew who he was from before,” said Roach, who previously faced Davis twice in the amateurs. “There was a mental advantage from when the fight was first announced. I was already on a high horse, already had a chip on my shoulder. What’s driving me is I want to be the best.
“[Davis] has been a pound-for-pound talent for the last few couple years. You guys have seen my skills now. I’m never going to knock his skills, never going to knock his ability, but I want to be amongst the tops, too. My performance in the rematch will show you guys that I belong in those conversations, and when I win, I cannot wait to celebrate and tell everyone, ‘I told you so.’”