Henry Garcia, father and coach of Ryan Garcia, didn't pull any punches when assessing Davis' showing.
"There's no way you can say that Tank won. There's no way," Garcia said. "His age is catching up to him. The legs aren't there as they used to be."
At 29, Davis has built a reputation as one of boxing's elite, but his latest outing left some wondering if he's lost a step. The fighter's explosiveness, a hallmark of his style, seemed lacking.
Adding to the intrigue, Davis' corner looked different for this bout. Barry Hunter stepped in to lead instead of Calvin Ford, Davis' longtime mentor. Ford chalked it up to scheduling conflicts, but skeptics aren't buying it.
A rematch between Davis and Roach Jr. is reportedly in the works for June 2025. The location is still up in the air, with Las Vegas and New York both in the running. Michael Woods, a respected boxing journalist, pointed out that both fighters hail from the East Coast, making New York an appealing option.
Davis' team will weigh their options carefully. His star power and ability to sell out arenas will factor into the decision. His last fight in New York was a big hit, filling the venue to capacity.
For Davis, the rematch is a chance to silence the doubters and prove he's still the same fighter who demolished Ryan Garcia. He'll need to address concerns about his mobility, his connection with his trainer, and his overall sharpness.
Roach Jr., on the other hand, is eager to show that their first encounter wasn't a fluke. He'll enter the rematch with renewed confidence, looking to capitalize on any chinks in Davis' armor.
As the boxing world waits for the rematch, one question hangs in the air: Can Davis recapture the magic that made him the lightweight king, or is his reign starting to slip away?