Gervonta Davis kept his unbeaten record intact after a majority draw with Lamont Roach Jr on March 1 in New York. The WBA lightweight champion came close to losing his belt in a fight that threw a wrench in his plans to face Jake Paul.
Roach put on the performance of his career and nearly dethroned 'Tank' Davis. The fight had its fair share of drama, especially in the ninth round. Davis took a knee after Roach landed a jab, but referee Steve Willis didn't call it a knockdown. This decision caused an uproar among Roach's team and boxing fans.
The draw with Roach derailed Davis' potential matchup with Jake Paul. In an interview with Andre Ward, Roach spilled the beans on the lucrative offer Davis had on the table.
"They say he's supposed to fight Jake Paul next, after he was supposed to clean me out. Jake Paul's going to guarantee you about $40 million if the fight is with a notable person, which is Tank."
Roach couldn't wrap his head around why Davis didn't push harder for a clear win, given what was at stake.
"Why would he take it easy on me? Why would he sacrifice that? Especially if he's talking about retiring, that's his exit plan if that's the case. Why would he do that? That just baffles me."
The unexpected result has paved the way for a rematch between Davis and Roach. Both fighters have reportedly agreed to face each other again, with the bout expected to take place this summer. An official announcement should come in the next few weeks.
The rematch between the unbeaten three-weight world champion Davis and the rejuvenated Roach could turn out to be one of the most dramatic encounters of 2025. Boxing fans will have to wait and see if 'Tank' can make the necessary adjustments to secure a clear victory this time around.
