Can Lamont Roach Get A Fair Shake?

The fight between Isaac Cruz and former WBA Jr. Lightweight world champion Lamont Roach on December 6th in San Antonio, TX not only was an encounter between two of the best fighters currently in the sport of Boxing, but also represented Roach’s debut in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division. One could also say that Roach was riding a career high after receiving a draw in his previous bout in March with the talented, but troubled Gervonta Davis. In facing Cruz, Roach was in some ways going back into a fire pit by facing a fighter known for his aggression that while not known for the type of knockout power that Davis had, has a non-stop come forward, pressure attack that many fighters including Davis have found difficult to combat. It was also a fight that Roach openly sought after not being able to secure a rematch with Davis.

The question of this fight was both simple and complex. Would Roach be able to deal with a fighter like Cruz who suffocates opponents with pressure and could he do so ten pounds heavier than where he was a world champion in the 130lb. Jr. Featherweight division? It became apparent early on when the two fighters met at the Frost Bank Center that Cruz had every intention of being as difficult a task to combat as he has been for virtually every opponent he has ever faced. 

By applying pressure early, Cruz made it difficult for Roach, a well-rounded boxer/puncher, to find a consistent rhythm by forcing him to stand and fight on the inside, which is not typically the norm for Roach, who uses lateral movement and angles to attack his opponents. This approach for Cruz, the current WBC number one Jr. Welterweight contender, by making it a rough and at times ugly fight, was highlighted in round three when he was credited with a knockdown when a left hook to the jaw knocked Roach off balance where one of his gloves touched the canvas. Although this was the correct call by Referee James Green, it was a cruel irony that the first knockdown of Roach’s career came in a similar manner as when he was not credited with a knockdown when Davis took a knee in the ninth round of their fight back in March of this year. In that instance, however, a knockdown, which would have been the correct call was not made and that error, arguably resulted in that fight being scored a draw and not a victory for Roach as many observers, including this one, felt he deserved. 

Unfortunately for Roach, the irony and the cruelty would not stop with the knockdown here, despite that ruling being correct. From the point in which Roach got up from the knockdown, he gradually got himself into a rhythm by throwing short and consistent combinations that often caught Cruz as he came forward. Often when Cruz did get in close, he clinched and held Roach on the inside. It was such holding that often resembled more grappling on the inside as opposed to what is considered holding to necessitate a separation from the referee or holding when the fighter doing so is hurt and trying to avoid being knocked down or out, that resulted in him being penalized a point for holding excessively in round seven. By that point, however, Roach seemed to have nullified the effects of the knockdown in round three in terms of points as this observer felt, though many of the rounds remained competitive, he took over the tempo of the fight and carried the action for the remainder of the twelve round bout.

At the conclusion of the twelve round fight, I arrived with a 114-111 scorecard in favor of Lamont Roach. A three point margin, but I had Roach winning eight rounds to four. Normally when there is an eight-four margin in a twelve round fight, one usually arrives at a 116-112 scorecard in points. The three point margin rather than a four point margin is a reflection of both the knockdown of Roach in round three, which was scored 10-8 in favor of Isaac Cruz per it being a round where he scored a knockdown, and the point deduction against Cruz in round seven in a round where he was losing the round prior to that penalizing. Without the point being taken from him, he would have lost the round by a score of 10-9. The deduction, however, resulted in a 10-8 score and ultimately how I ended up with a 114-111 final score rather than the standard 116-112 score for an eight rounds to four margin. 

The thorough explanation and analysis of scoring from yours truly is moot in this case as the result of this fight would ultimately be a majority draw with only one judge, having a victor in Cruz on his scorecard. The cruelty for Roach is that this is now the second consecutive fight in less than a year where he was held to a draw in a fight many feel he won. 

The question I have coming out of this fight is Can Lamont Roach get a fair shake, or as several fighters in previous eras have had a label placed on them, has Roach become Boxing’s latest hard luck fighter? A label usually reserved for fighters who either end up with losses against more notable opposition or end up with draws as Roach has now done twice. For his part, Roach did not hide his frustration in a post-fight interview in the ring immediately after the decision was announced calling the verdict quote “Bullshit” and saying he was tired of not getting a fair shake. While this observer does not often display expletives in his writings per professional/journalistic standards, the quote offered by a frustrated fighter in Lamont Roach, who has proven to be one of the best fighters in the sport, despite not getting the victories in these two recent outings that many feel, including yours truly that he deserved, was both blunt and one that many fighters throughout history have expressed at one time or another when on the wrong end of a decision they felt should have gone their way, whether justified in those feelings or not. 

It is hard to not sympathize with a fighter that clearly has the talent and credentials to be one of the top fighters of his era, who feels like they were not given the credit/victory they felt they were due. Unfortunately, the Cruz-Roach bout will also now take its place as the latest in a long line of controversial fights over decades to be held in the state of Texas, which have often revolved around controversial scoring. Whether this decision, like Roach’s bout with Gervonta Davis, which was held in Brooklyn, NY is simply a case of judges, who like the rest of us, are human beings, having a bad night at the office is something that will likely be debated. What is perhaps more troublesome for sanctioning organizations and state and international regulatory boards is if fighters feel that they aren't being treated fairly and that perception slowly spreads amongst fellow fighters and subsequently gains public support, it will become increasingly harder to hold combat sports events and have the credibility that it is truly an even playing field for all combatants where adequate decisions will be rendered. When one also considers the times in which we live where it is all too easy for one, whether they have credibility or not, to air their grievances publicly, such controversies should not be dismissed.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Cruz-Roach Preview

On Saturday, December 6th, the Boxing world will focus on the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX for a fight, which in all likelihood will have repercussions in the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division heading into 2026 and to be specific, with regard to the World Boxing Council (WBC) Jr. Welterweight ratings. This observer is referring to the battle between top contenders Isaac Cruz and Lamont Roach, a fight that will headline a pay-per-view card promoted under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner and streamed in the United States by Prime Video. What makes this an intriguing battle beyond an interesting clash of styles, which alone should draw interest amongst Boxing aficionados is the stakes of this encounter have potentially increased since the time the bout was announced.

First we have the clash of styles between a come forward pressure fighter in Cruz that tries to break his opponents down gradually in the mold of a Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., in that often from the opening bell, he comes forward and tries to apply constant pressure and back his opponent up with a swarming attack to the body and head. In thirty-two professional bouts, Cruz, who will walk into this fight holding an interim championship designation in the WBC Jr. Welterweight ratings, has a record of 28-3-1, with 18 Knockouts.

Standing across the ring from him on December 6th will be Lamont Roach. Roach, a former longtime top contender in the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division, who briefly held a similar interim designation in the WBA’s rankings in that weight class, is a well-rounded boxer/puncher that can do a little of everything, who will enter the fight with a record of 25-1-2, with 10 Knockouts. Despite the contrast in styles, both fighters share a commonality. Both have previously found themselves in decisions that many feel should have gone their way against the same fighter in Gervonta Davis. Some may recall Cruz putting forth a spirited effort against Davis four years and one day from where this fight will take place against Roach, in December 2021. A fight where many believed he deserved the decision based on the pressure and body work he inflicted on Davis over the course of the fight, but ended up losing a close twelve round unanimous decision. 

More recently, Roach found himself on what many considered to be the wrong end of a decision against Davis in March of this year where he appeared to not have what should have been credited as a knockdown in his favor in the ninth round where Davis took a knee and had one of his cornermen wipe his face with a towel before continuing on. This blown call by Referee Steve Willis by not ruling a knockdown against Davis, as should have been the case when a fighter takes a knee for any reason outside of after suffering an illegal blow, is what many point to in resulting in Roach getting a twelve round majority draw as opposed to a victory that many observers including this one, felt he deserved. Obstacles toward a rematch with Davis, coupled with the latter’s choosing to sign to participate in an exhibition with Jake Paul, before ultimately being removed from that endeavor due to accusations of domestic violence against him, have resulted in Roach now facing Cruz.

What this fight comes down to in my eyes is virtually the same question that is asked of all Isaac Cruz opponents. Can Roach find a way to offset the pressure attack that Cruz will be trying to execute? While Cruz is not known for punching power, his knockouts have come from breaking his opponents down and he tries to more or less pin himself onto an opponent's chest where he not only cuts the ring off, but makes it extremely difficult for that fighter to get any breathing room where they can move, let alone find a consistent rhythm.

Although this has proven to be a difficult task to combat for many opponents, Lamont Roach does have good lateral movement, the ability to use angles, and a good mix of hand speed and accuracy when it comes to counter punching. Whether or not he will be able to set traps for Cruz as he comes forward to set up counter punch opportunities and whether he can evade the pressure and body/head attack of Cruz for all twelve rounds remains to be seen. 

The wrinkle that has emerged since this fight was announced that could potentially raise the stakes is while Cruz’ WBC Interim designation will be at stake in the fight, current WBC World Jr. Welterweight champion Subriel Matias, who has a scheduled title defense in January against Dalton Smith in New York, recently tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine during randomized testing conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA) while in training for that title defense. As of this writing, the status of both that fight as well as Matias’ standing as WBC world champion in the Jr. Welterweight division is unknown. 

The possibility certainly exists, however, that the WBC could strip Matias of the title per the testing results either before or shortly after the Cruz-Roach fight takes place, which would obviously either elevate this fight to a world title bout or create a situation where the winner of it will be named world champion and possibly be mandated to fight Dalton Smith in 2026 assuming that Matias would not be permitted to fight due to possible suspension both by the WBC as well as the Association of Boxing Commissions that has both state and international membership due to the failed test.

Either way one chooses to look at this situation, the stakes are high for both Cruz and Roach regardless of a world title is on the line here as regardless, the winner will be in a position for potential lucrative fights going into 2026 and even though world championships still mean something and will always hold value in the sport, the possibility for more lucrative paydays often man as much or more than the championships themselves. Which fighter will find himself in such a position remains to be seen.

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

Cruz vs. Roach takes place on Saturday, December 6th at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX. The fight as well as its undercard can be seen in the United States on Prime Video Pay-Per-View beginning at 5:30 PM ET/2:30 PM PT with free preliminary bouts with the pay-per-view portion beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT for $79.95. To order this pay-per-view event download the Prime Video app on mobile, tablet, or connected streaming devices and smart TVs and find Premier Boxing Champions in the Sports section or click the following link : PBC: Cruz vs. Roach

(*Card And Start Times Subject To Change.”

(*Check your local listings and Prime Video for availability and pricing internationally.*)

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Gloves Off: Pitbull-Roach Now Streaming On Prime Video

Credit: Prime Video 

Press Release: November 22, 2025 By Prime Video - NEW YORK—November 21, 2025—Today, Prime Video announced Gloves Off: Pitbull vs Roach, the latest installment of its compelling, all-access docuseries. Debuting Saturday, November 22 on Prime Video, this edition explores the journey of two warriors whose willingness to accept major challenges have earned them worldwide respect in The Fight Game. Former 140-pound champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz and reigning WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Lamont Roach go toe-to-toe for the Interim WBC Super Lightweight Title on Saturday, December 6, headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video from Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX.

 

As the 2025 boxing season enters its final month, this fight is pivotal for both men. Mexico City native "Pitbull" Cruz (28-3-1, 18 KOs) became world champion in March 2024, claiming the WBA Super Lightweight title. Recently, Cruz rebounded from a loss to Jose Valenzuela by defeating countryman Angel Fierro before earning a unanimous decision over Omar Salcido in July.

Washington D.C.'s Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) captured his WBA Super Featherweight World Championship in November 2023 by dethroning Hector Luis Garcia. He defended his belt in June 2024, dominating previously unbeaten Feargal McCrory for an eighth-round TKO. Earlier this year, he moved up in weight to challenge undefeated WBA Lightweight World Champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis, earning a controversial majority draw in New York City.

Narrated by Barry Pepper, the series takes fans beyond the ring, blending footage of fighters' lives, families, and training, as excitement builds for this prime-time showcase in a city with a long history of hosting memorable prizefights.

Material and Photo Courtesy of: Prime Video Used with permission.

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Will We See A Davis-Roach Rematch?

In recent years, the term “Pay-Per-View Star" has lost some of its value due to the pay-per-view model being one that is overpriced and over used even as subscription-based streaming has offered better value for consumers and generally produces higher viewership numbers than those events that are reserved for pay-per-view. There are, however, some exceptions or at least some fighters that a portion of Boxing fans will argue are worthy of the label “Pay-Per-View Star" even as the model is a dying medium. One such fighter is Gervonta Davis.

Davis, a fighter who has competed in three weight classes ranging from the 130lb. Jr. Lightweight division up to the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division is known for producing knockouts that are the type that come suddenly and are often brutal. Along the way, Davis has won world titles in the Jr. Lightweight and Lightweight divisions, while for a time holding Interim/Regular champion status in the Jr. Welterweight division. As the current WBA World Lightweight champion, few fighters have been able to withstand Davis’ punching power and compete effectively. Unbeaten in thirty professional fights, with twenty-eight of those wins coming via knockout registering a career knockout percentage of over 90%, Davis climbed into the ring at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY to face current WBA Jr. Lightweight world champion Lamont Roach on March 1st in the main event of the latest pay-per-view offering on Prime Video promoted by the Premier Boxing Champions group of promoters.

Despite the fact that this was a fight between two current world champions, with a past history having fought twice in 2011 as amateurs, there were some who felt this encounter would be another note on Davis’ extensive record of knockout wins. Perhaps the perception of that beyond the track record that Davis has was rooted in the fact that Roach, who entered the fight with a record of 25-1-1, with 10 Knockouts, was not only moving up five pounds to challenge Davis for his world title, but was not known for his punching power. While their meetings as amateurs should not have been used as a way to attempt to measure what might happen when they faced off due to the fact that both were kids at the time, Davis did win both bouts via close decisions, which context aside, could have also led to the perception that Roach would be a footnote on Davis’ record. Although in recent times Davis has become known as a fighter that starts slow and gradually picks up his pace as a fight progresses, it did not take Roach long to establish that whatever perception a fan might have had of his chances going into this fight may have been misjudged. 

Roach did this by applying tactical pressure on Davis early in the fight. While both fighters did not throw many punches through several of the early rounds, which resulted in a bout fought at an extremely measured pace, what was noticeable was Roach’s ability to gradually walk Davis backward. Despite neither fighter being able to establish a clear offensive output from the other and seemingly matching each other punch for punch, it was the challenger’s calculated approach that gave an impression that he may have had the upper hand, albeit slightly through the first six rounds of the fight. 

Although it was not the most entertaining of fights for those who are looking for action, the level of competition between the two fighters is something that should not be ignored. Through the first six rounds, I felt Roach was ahead by a round, however, this observer has been around long enough and has certainly covered enough close fights in just about every scenario one could name in three decades to know that how I might be seeing things could be reversed for someone else or might be a little wider as well, in particular, how the three official judges might be see things. 

Though Roach being able to be tactical and largely nullify the pace in which the combat was being fought was the most noticeable thing through the first half of the fight, the champion subtly began landing hard, thudding punches when he did let his hands go, which can leave just as much an impression on those scoring a fight as who might be dictating how a fight is being fought. The seventh round saw the beginning of a change in the pace of the fight as the challenger Roach seemed willing to stand and try to trade power punches with Davis. In that if Davis landed solidly on Roach, Roach would respond by trying to not only land punches that were as solid as the ones the champion was landing, but would try doing so in combination. 

As the action began to heat up, an element of controversy would occur in the ninth round when Davis seemed to turn his back and take a knee. Under most circumstances, this would result in a knockdown being ruled against the fighter that took a knee. Referee Steve Willis would frankly blow the call and while he did admonish Davis and warn him that what he had done constituted a knockdown, he did not score one in favor of Roach. While in fairness, I did not see a punch land on Davis prior to him taking a knee, Willis’ decision to not call it a knockdown, which it should have been outside of something illegal like a low blow landing, would prove to be crucial even as the tempo of the fight had changed and we saw more heated exchanges between the two fighters.

What stood out as the fight entered the championship rounds was not so much that the tempo had switched from measured and tactical, to tactical yet with heated exchanges, was Roach’s willingness to play with fire and exchange with Davis, but more specifically seemingly getting the better of the action particularly when he was able to land with his right hand, often in a counter punch sequence. Going into the twelfth round, I felt the fight was close, but had Roach narrowly edging Davis, just as I had at the halfway point at the conclusion of round six. Roach seemed to get the better of the action in the final round leading me to have a seven rounds to five or 115-113 in points scorecard in his favor. Ultimately, one official judge had a seven rounds to five margin in favor of Davis, while the two remaining judges turned in identical deadlocked scorecards of six rounds to six or 114-114 in points resulting in a majority draw.

Just how crucial the first six rounds were in terms of who had the upper hand when the two fighters were matching each other punch for punch, but more specifically Steve Willis’ decision as the referee to not rule a knockdown against Davis will be heavily debated as to whether that decision cost Lamont Roach a victory and his second world title in this fight. If the knee Davis took in the ninth round had been scored correctly as a knockdown, it is logical to think that it would have been the difference maker on the two scorecards that resulted in a draw in turning what was a draw into a majority decision win for Roach as it would have been scored s 10-8 round due to the knockdown and not a 10-9 round, which though still resulting in a narrow score margin, would have determined a winner.

It is clear coming out of this fight that some decisions will have to be made. One, will Roach, who is still the WBA’s Jr. Lightweight world champion, choose to move back down in weight to defend his title or will he choose to remain at Lightweight. Two, will Davis, who was talking about retirement before this fight, indeed move in the direction or continue on with his career. While it is still to be determined as to how successful this fight proved to be as a pay-per-view attraction with a $79.95 price point, given what happened in the ring and the fact that for the first time since he fought Isaac Cruz in December 2021 that there was legitimate doubt as to the outcome and the fact that this turned out to be a draw and not a win for Davis, with the impression being left that it was Lamont Roach, who saw his stock go up, we should see a rematch. Whether we will and whether it comes in a timely manner as some other rematches have in the recent history of the sport remains to be seen. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

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Gloves Off: Davis-Roach Now Streaming On Prime Video

Credit: Prime Video 

Press Release: February 15, 2025 By NEW YORK—February 14, 2025— Today, Prime Video announced the release of Gloves Off: Gervonta “Tank” Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr., the sixth installment of the compelling docuseries. This two-part series delves into the preparation for the anticipated 12-round lightweight world championship bout set for Saturday, March 1 at Barclays Center.

Boxing superstar and reigning WBA Lightweight World Champion Gervonta "Tank" Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) will defend his title against WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Lamont Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs) in the main event of a stacked PBC Pay-Per-View on Prime Video card. The 30-year-old Davis from Baltimore and 29-year-old Roach from Washington, D.C., previously met as amateurs and now face off for Tank's World Lightweight belt.

 

Narrated by Barry Pepper, the program takes fans beyond the ring, blending footage of the fighters' lives, families, and training camp activities as excitement builds for this prime-time encounter in Brooklyn.

Material, Photo, and Trailer Courtesy of: Prime Video Used with permission. 

For more information about Prime Video please visit: www.PrimeVideo.com 

 

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Gloves Off: Canelo vs Berlanga Live Now on Prime Video

Press Release: September 10, 2024 By Prime Video-

Credit: Prime Video 

 

All-new editions of Gloves Off explore the backstories of two elite world-class fighters who will be trading punches in a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video at T-Mobile Arena on September 14

NEW YORK—Sept. 9, 2024— Prime Video announced the release of Gloves Off: Canelo vs Berlanga, the fourth edition of the compelling behind-the-scenes presentation, Gloves Off. As momentum builds for an intriguing night of PBC Pay-Per-View action on Prime Video on September 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, this two-part edition of Gloves Off explores what motivates both main event participants while setting the stage for the latest chapter of the heated ring rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. Mexican native Canelo Álvarez brings his Super Middleweight World Championship belts into the ring for a showdown with undefeated top-rated challenger, Edgar Berlanga, who is seeking to add another extraordinary accomplishment to the storied legacy of Puerto Rican boxing. Narrated by Barry Pepper, the program takes fans far beyond the ring. The series blends footage and stories of the fighters’ lives, families, training camp team members and training camp activity as the build-up increases for this highly anticipated 168-pound World Championship battle.

 

Having already secured his placed as one of Mexico’s all-time great fighters and destined for the International Boxing Hall of Fame, superstar Canelo Álvarez (61-2-2, 39 KOs) is putting his unified WBC, WBA and WBO Super Middleweight World Titles on the line against undefeated WBA No. 1-Ranked Mandatory Contender Edgar Berlanga (22-0, 17 KOs). The 12-round battle headlines a Mexican Independence Day weekend celebration in a city well-known for memorable athletic achievement.

 

 

Canelo-Berlanga clash marks the latest chapter of the historic and intense ring rivalry of Mexico vs. Puerto Rico

The Canelo-Berlanga pay-per-view event is also available for pre-order for $89.99 through the Prime Video app on Mobile, Tablet, and Connected Streaming Devices/Smart TVs or can also be purchased at the following link: Canelo vs. Berlanga.

Material, Photo, and Trailer Courtesy of: Prime Video and Premier Boxing Champions Used with permission. 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Punching Power Saves The Day For Davis

On June 15th the Boxing world focused it's attention on the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV where undefeated WBA Lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis made his first defense of the title since being named world champion following former undisputed world champion Devin Haney relinquishing his crown to move up in weight, against undefeated WBA number two rated Lightweight contender Frank Martin. While this observer would like to paint a picture of this fight being simply about an unbeaten world champion meeting an unbeaten challenger, as there always seems to be in Boxing, there ended up being more to the story. 

In this case, in the days leading up to the fight, there was a situation that emerged that frankly took attention away from the fight. Yours truly is referring to a situation that led to the dismissal of Leonard Ellerbe, longtime CEO of Floyd Mayweather’s Mayweather Promotions, who promote both Davis and Martin under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner as in the days leading up to the twelve round world championship bout at a pre-fight press conference Ellerbe seemingly did everything to discredit Martin as a challenger to Davis rather than promoting the fight, which was the main event of the latest PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View offering. Shortly after that press conference, news broke that Ellerbe had been dismissed and former CEO of Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions Richard Schaefer now being designated as the man who will take over the duties for Mayweather Promotions. Although this was the latest in a series of struggles of the Premier Boxing Champions group of promoters, the blunder while taking attention away from the fight and card as a whole for a time, did not overshadow this event. With the situation regarding Ellerbe and Mayweather seemingly in the rearview for the time being, it was time for Davis and Martin to meet inside the ring. 

What stood out immediately was the challenger’s ability to use angles to offset the pressure of Davis. This in addition to Martin's ability to land precise counter punches and beat Davis to the punch is what carried the fight for most of the first five rounds. Although it seemed clear that Frank Martin was gradually compiling a lead on the official scorecards and it was approaching a point where it would be difficult for the champion to dig himself out of a hole if he needed to win a decision to retain his title, Davis never ceased applying constant pressure and gradually walking Martin back both against the ropes and in corners of the ring. While it is indisputable that Gervonta Davis is the type of fighter that has the type of punching power that can and often does end fights suddenly if he connects flush, I wondered as I watched the fight whether that asset, as valuable as it is for those who are blessed to have it, would end up working against Davis against a fighter that clearly had a fight plan and was tactically Boxing him with seemingly significant success.

This was because as the fight progressed, not only was Davis’ face gradually swelling from the effects of Martin's jab, short combinations, and catching the champion with counter punches that briefly stopped him in his tracks, but Davis was seemingly putting everything he had behind every punch he threw, was made to miss with a good portion of those punches, and was visibly becoming frustrated. Despite this, Davis maintained his approach and in the eighth round would finally catch up with the elusive boxer Martin.

As he had been doing for virtually the entire fight, Davis stalked and gradually cornered Martin. Despite Martin appearing comfortable throughout the bout in being willing to stand in corners or on the ropes while Davis came forward, rather than trying to move and evade the champion, it was such willingness that would prove to be a costly mistake. Davis connected with a brutal right uppercut followed by a left hook to the jaw that sent Martin down and out on the canvas. The champion had retained his title in devastating fashion.

At the end of the day, Gervonta Davis’ power saved the day and he was able to get the job done. An obvious question that should be asked coming out of this fight is should there be concerns moving forward? In that, Davis had the punching power to bail him out of what was looking to potentially be a fight that he was losing on the scorecards. While no one can take anything away from Davis as he was blessed with punching power and did what he had to do, the danger for fighters who have such God given talents such as punching power is they tend to rely strictly on power to get them through and though it might work for a period of time, it also can serve as somewhat of a blueprint for future opponents that could study what Frank Martin was able to do in this fight for example and try to implement elements of that strategy into their own approach. A fighter such as recently crowned IBF/IBO Lightweight world champion Vasyl Lomachenko, who is a possible target for Davis later this year, is a master boxer, who has immaculate footwork and ability to use angles, in addition to having quick hands and punching power of his own. 

If a fight between Lomachenko and Davis is indeed next for both, the concern for Davis should be to try and find a way to implement an approach that will have an emphasis on winning rounds as opposed to relying strictly on his punching power to get the job done. Vasyl Lomachenko is among the most tactical fighters in the entire sport and there is little doubt that he will try to implement an approach with an emphasis on angles as well as avoiding the power Davis has. Although laying out such a strategy is easier than attempting to execute one in the midst of battle, Davis should prepare for the possibility that his power may not be all he needs to win moving forward, regardless of whether Vasyl Lomachenko will be the next opponent standing across the ring from him. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth.”

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Davis-Martin Preview

In April of last year two-division world champion Gervonta Davis squared off with top contender Ryan Garcia in a highly anticipated clash of undefeated rising stars of the sport of Boxing. The encounter, which was held at a catchweight, was won by Davis, who knocked Garcia out with a body shot in the seventh round.

Although per the catchweight stipulation and the fact that at the time Davis held Interim/Regular status in the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) Lightweight ratings, no world championship was on the line, it was nevertheless one of the biggest events on the Boxing calendar last year, despite the pay-per-view broadcast being riddled with problems resulting in significant refunds being issued to consumers.

The obvious flaws of the pay-per-view model and this observer’s long-standing criticisms on the subject notwithstanding, there is no dispute that the victory over Garcia was a milestone moment in Davis’ career. Like many other fighters in recent times however, Davis, who has long been aligned with the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) group of promoters, has seen his career stall as he has not been in the ring in active competition since. 

What has also become a recurring theme of yours truly recently has been the subject of how inactivity often does more harm to fighters than it serves as a benefit. Whether Davis will find his name on the list of fighters who are or were previously aligned with the struggling PBC promotional banner to have suffered setbacks upon returning to action following a lengthy hiatus remains to be seen as Davis, who was recently elevated to WBA World Lightweight champion, following former undisputed champion Devin Haney vacating the championship and moving up to the 140lb. Jr. Welterweight division at the end of last year, will defend his title on June 15th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV against undefeated WBA number two Lightweight contender Frank Martin in a fight that will headline a PBC on Prime Video Pay-Per-View card. 

This fight for Davis not only represents the second consecutive time that he will be facing an unbeaten opponent, but also presents a unique scenario that is rare and not good under any way one views the circumstances. In that like Davis, Martin, who is also aligned with the PBC, is also coming off of a layoff of nearly a year, whereas the champion will have been inactive for nearly fifteen months by the time this fight takes place. While this is a reflection of both the position the PBC is in having lost their longtime broadcast deal with the now defunct Showtime Sports, which ceased operations at the end of last year as part of a significant restructuring of its parent company Paramount Global, and the fact that since beginning their deal with Prime Video in March of this year, the PBC has only ran two events, both pay-per-view offerings, it is not often that two fighters find themselves in essentially the same position in terms of coming off of a lengthy stretch of inactivity. 

In this case, one might wonder what type of fight we might see given the circumstances of both fighters having to possibly deal with the elements of “Ring Rust." At his best, Gervonta Davis can be an explosive power puncher that is capable of ending a fight suddenly. Although he has also shown an ability to use his Boxing skills rather than power to win fights in his career, Davis has scored knockouts in twenty-seven of his twenty-nine career wins, registering a career knockout percentage of nearly 94%.

This would serve as at minimum a statistical indication that Davis will be the favorite going into this fight as well as having more experience than the challenger, who will enter the bout with eighteen wins, with twelve knockouts. Frank Martin has also shown an ability to get an opponent out of there if given an opportunity, but conventional wisdom might suggest that his best opportunity to win this fight will be by trying to box Davis as opposed to getting into a scenario where he has to trade punches with the champion. A task that might be easier said than done, but if Martin is able to find success by implementing such a strategy, he must not get complacent and remember that he needs to box for the full twelve round distance and not give Davis any openings. 

There have been times where previous opponents have had success by using lateral movement to try and box Davis. Thus far, no one has successfully made it to the finish line with that approach as more often than not Davis, who tends to apply pressure and walk his opponents down, has been able to catch them and knock them out. Only two fighters, German Meraz and Isaac Cruz have been able to take Davis the distance in his career. In the case of Cruz, he was able to have success by trying to back Davis up and by going to the body. There are also some who believe Cruz deserved the decision against Davis.

The fight plan for the champion going into this encounter is likely to be the same as virtually all his fights. Apply pressure from the opening bell, try to cut off the ring to limit Martin’s ability to move, and break him down with punching power. A danger that all fighters that become known for their power need to try to avoid is the temptation to become reliant strictly on that power. In that it becomes tempting for a fighter, who knows what they can do with their power if they can land solidly, simply tries to land a fight ending blow with every punch they throw, rather than looking for ways to set up opportunities to land those punches, or trying to win rounds in order to win a decision if needed. Fortunately for Davis, he has not seemed to fall into that trap thus far in his career, but the danger is always there and it will be interesting to see if he falls into such a scenario, particularly if Martin is able to find success and put rounds in the bank early. 

There simply is not much else to say as this fight approaches. Two fighters coming off significant inactivity, both unbeaten, with one's World Lightweight championship on the line. If both fighters manage to bring their best into the ring with them and the element of possible “Ring Rust" turns out to not be an issue for either fighter, this could be a fun fight to watch. 

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

Davis vs. Martin takes place on Saturday, June 15th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The fight as well as its full undercard can be seen on a pay-per-view basis on PBC  on Prime Video Pay-Per-View for $74.95. The card will begin at 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT with free preliminary bouts before the main pay-per-view card begins at 8PM ET/5PM PT. 

Prime Video is available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices/Smart TVs. To order Davis vs. Martin click the Premier Boxing Champions tab in the sports section within the Prime Video app on your device of choice or click the following link: Davis vs. Martin.

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Davis-Martin Now Available For Preorder On Prime Video

The June 15th pay-per-view card headlined by WBA World Lightweight champion Gervonta Davis and WBA number two rated contender Frank Martin is now available for preorder on Prime Video for $74.95. The card, which will be taking place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV, will begin at 5:30PM ET/2:30PM PT with free preliminary bouts followed by the main pay-per-view card beginning at 8PM ET/5PM PT. Prime Video is available on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices and Smart TVs. To order Davis vs. Martin browse the Premier Boxing Champions tab in the sports section within the Prime Video app or click the following link: Davis vs. Martin.

We will have a preview of Davis vs. Martin here on The Boxing Truth®️ on Wednesday, June 12th. Stay tuned.

“And That's The Boxing Truth." 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on the following Social Media Platforms:

X: (Formerly Twitter) www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison 

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