As you might already know, Gervonta Davis will defend his WBA lightweight title against Lamont Roach Jr. on December 14 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, live on Amazon Prime Video. While Davis continues to dominate the lightweight division, the focus now shifts to Roach, the WBA super featherweight champion moving up in weight for the biggest fight of his career. So, who is Lamont Roach Jr., and what makes him an intriguing challenger for Davis?
Roach, 28, hails from Capitol Heights, Maryland, and has built his career with a reputation for skill and perseverance. His journey in the sport started at a young age, with his amateur career highlighted by gold medals at prestigious tournaments like the National Golden Gloves and USA Boxing Youth National Championships. These early achievements laid a solid foundation for his professional career, which began in 2014 when he signed with Golden Boy Promotions.
Roach has been gradually climbing the ranks at super featherweight, where he now holds the WBA title after defeating Hector Garcia. Known for his boxing IQ and technical ability, Roach has faced his share of challenges, including his only professional loss in a competitive decision against Jamel Herring in 2019 for the WBO title. However, his resilience and focus have seen him bounce back, and he’s maintained a strong position in the division since.
While Roach doesn’t carry the knockout power that Davis does - only 10 of his 25 wins have come by stoppage - he has the kind of grit and determination that makes him a difficult opponent. His recent performances, including an eighth-round stoppage of Feargal McCrory in June, show that he’s still improving and hungry for bigger opportunities. Moving up to lightweight to face Davis represents a huge step, but it’s also a chance for Roach to prove he belongs among the sport’s elite.
Roach enters the December 14 clash as the underdog, but his background, skillset, and determination make him a compelling challenger. For Davis, it’s another opportunity to showcase his power and skill, but Roach’s ability to rise to the occasion could make this fight more competitive than expected.
Read, vote, and watch some videos about the upcoming Tank-Roach fight here.
Image Credit: Getty Images