Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is set to return to the ring on December 14, looking to continue his terrific surge at the dizzy heights of boxing super stardom.
The 29-year-old comes off a destructive performance over Frank Martin, dispatching the southpaw slickster with a barrage of unanswered haymakers in the eighth round.
In his bout before, though, Gervonta Davis put on an even more clinical display against Ryan Garcia, landing a sickening seventh-round body shot to emphatically halt proceedings.
And now, it seems as though the Baltimore bruiser will be defending his WBA lightweight trinket against Lamont Roach Jr, the sanctioning body’s ‘super’ champion at 130 lbs.
The WBA reveal why they are allowing Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr to go ahead
Roach made a successful defense of his WBA super featherweight world title earlier this year, securing an eighth-round stoppage victory over unbeaten challenger Feargal McCrory.
Since then, the 29-year-old has been bidding for a blockbuster showdown with Davis in the division above and, seemingly, the WBA have agreed to sanction the fight.
However, with Roach still needing to face his mandatory challenger, Albert Batyrgaziev, there are a few stipulations that the American must be mindful of.
“If Roach beats Davis in the fight, he will be given five days to send his decision to the WBA on which of the two titles he will keep and defend,” the WBA have stated.
“On the other hand, if he were to lose the bout, he will be required to fight the official 130-pound challenger within 120 days of the Davis fight.
“Rule C.16 states that the WBA may modify the periods for mandatory defenses for good cause, either in response to a request for special permission or on its own initiative.”
Gervonta Davis responds to criticism over Lamont Roach Jr clash
It is no secret that the WBA, as well as the other three sanctioning bodies, have been known to make allowances when a big fight demands them.
And yet, while Roach represents a solid opponent, it could be said that the majority of fans were hoping to see ‘Tank’ in a more career-defining dustup.
Davis, afterall, is considered by many to be the number one campaigner at lightweight, and will therefore always be expected to take on the highest-level of opposition.
But while Shakur Stevenson and Vasyl Lomachenko – two bona fide stars at 135 lbs – both hold titles in the same weight class, it appears that we may have to wait until next year before either champion is likely to collide with ‘Tank.’