Gervonta Davis will fight Lamont Roach Jr on December 14 at the Toyota Centre in Houston, Texas. The WBA Lightweight World Champion from Baltimore announced his return to the ring after failed negotiations with other top fighters.
Davis, known as 'Tank', got elevated to full champion status when Devin Haney moved up to 140 pounds and vacated his titles. In his first defense, Davis stopped Frank Martin in an emphatic fashion, pushing his record to 30-0 with 28 knockouts.
Talks with Ukrainian boxer Vasiliy Lomachenko fell through when Lomachenko decided to take the rest of the year off. A long-awaited clash with WBC champ Shakur Stevenson didn't materialize either.
Instead, Davis will face Lamont Roach Jr, an old amateur rival who's moving up from super-featherweight where he holds a title. When rumors of this matchup first surfaced, Devin Haney laughed at the choice of opponent.
Davis fired back at a fan who claimed he'd never be undisputed at lightweight. He wrote, "Your boy will never be mentally stable again." This comment seems to reference Haney's recent troubles.
Haney has filed a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia after their recent fight. Garcia tested positive for a banned substance twice during fight week. The New York State Athletic Commission overturned Garcia's initial victory and banned him for a year.
The lawsuit has split opinion in boxing circles. Many think it's a bad move by Haney, while others believe fighters who test positive should face consequences. Davis, who stopped Garcia in 2023, seems to view the lawsuit negatively.
"Your boy will never be mentally stable again."
Davis' comments and fight announcement mark his return to social media after a period of silence. The lightweight division remains one of boxing's most competitive, with several top fighters vying for supremacy.
