Tank Davis Begins Training For Title Defense Against Lamont Roach
WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis has begun training to defend his title in 56 days against Lamont Roach on March 1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Tank (30-0, 28 KOs) is working hard on his conditioning, knowing that Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs) will not be easy to beat. He may need to advance to the next round against Roach, 29, before he can score.
Weight Is Not A Problem
Gervonta is already in good shape, with his weight down, and almost at fighting weight. If you compare his looks to fighters like Keyshawn Davis, it’s like night and day.
Keyshawn looked like a great welterweight during his camp but somehow dropped to 135. Tank is a natural lightweight and is not a weight bully trying to game the system. Tank’s long-time coach Calvin Ford was also nowhere to be seen, prompting some to wonder if he had split up.
“I understand where you are coming from. Things are different when you have children. It changed your life. It completely changes your life,” said Leonard Ellerbe speaking to The Laboratory with Plaz, talking about Gervonta Davis’ decision to retire after three fights.
“He looks at things differently than six or seven years ago. If he says that [he’s retiring] we all felt it. No, it’s not. What you do is never good enough, and sometimes that can be frustrating.
“There is more to it than making a living. You respect the fans who pay money to see you fight, but you make a living outside of boxing. They want you to keep doing this, and they don’t care about your life after that.
Tank Davis may see more fighters take a breather next, such as Andy Cruz, Edwin De Los Santos, and Keyshawn Davis. He may feel insecure that he can overcome all or any of them. If he thinks he can win, he knows it will be a tough fight for him, and he may not want to put in the effort.
“Boxing is a cruel sport. You see many fighters from the front; they were used in many different ways. They go through a lot of health issues, a lot of constant things. I understand the philosophy that you enter the sport and make your mark, then leave. Everyone’s opinions are different, and everyone has different goals in life,” said Ellerbe.
It will be interesting to see if Tank’s retirement is permanent or if he will return after six to twelve months when he gets bored or is given a lot of money for a certain battle. Gervonta is so popular that it’s hard not to see him being offered a sum of money by someone for a big fight, and he agrees to take it.
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