Lamont Roach Jnr’s team is openly targeting a showdown with newly crowned junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson and they insist they see no reason to be intimidated. According to Roach’s father and trainer, Lamont Roach Snr, the blueprint already exists.
“Same reason why he had what it took to do that with Gervonta Davis,” Roach Snr said, referencing his son’s controversial draw with Davis last March. Many dismissed Roach’s chances beforehand, but he proved competitive against the lightweight titleholder. “It’s going to apply the same way,” he added, citing Roach’s decorated amateur résumé - a 12-time national champion, Golden Gloves winner at 17, USA champion and tournament outstanding boxer - along with his pro run to a world title.
The familiarity between Roach and Stevenson adds another layer. The two are friends and have shared plenty of rounds in sparring. “Shakur said himself, that’s why Shakur picked Lamont to beat Gervonta,” Roach Snr said. “Them two did many rounds with each other. It was great work.” As for what it would take to win? “It could take a fighter like Lamont and a good game plan. Same way we cracked the code on Gervonta, we’d be looking to do the same with Shakur.”
Roach endured further frustration in December with a draw against Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, leaving Team Roach feeling they were denied in back-to-back high-profile fights. “Of course he would have loved to fight both of those draws again, but them not fighting him is telling you something right there,” Roach Snr said. “That speaks for itself.” He believes different scorecards would have changed everything. “We’d be negotiating at a higher power, higher rate as a two-division or three-division world champion… It makes a big difference, man.”
Now medically cleared after suffering a broken right hand against Cruz, Roach is targeting a summer return. “His hand healed… We’ll be prepared like in June-ish to be fighting again,” Roach Snr confirmed. With Stevenson holding the WBO belt at 140lbs and the WBC lightweight title now vacant, Team Roach believes opportunity is within reach - and insists that if the fight is made, friendship will take a backseat. “They understand it’s a business… When they get in the ring, I’m sure it’s going to be all business.”
Image Credit: BBC