Lamont Roach Jr. wants no part of revisiting the Gervonta “Tank” Davis storyline as he heads into one of the biggest fights of his career. With Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz awaiting him on December 6 at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center, the WBA 130-pound titleholder made it clear that all discussion of a Davis rematch is firmly in his rearview.
“I don't really worry about that. I'm removed from that, even from that thought,” Roach said. “I really don't care about it; don't care about him. So, you know, it is what it is. I don't think about even rematching him at all.”
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Roach earned unexpected praise earlier this year when he held the heavily favored Davis to a controversial draw on March 1 in Brooklyn. The pair were scheduled to meet again in August, but Davis elected not to proceed, leaving Roach to chart his own path. Now campaigning in his third weight class in as many fights, the 30-year-old insists his full attention is on Cruz, not the past.
Their first fight sparked debate when Davis was pushed to the brink, even surviving a moment that many felt should have been ruled a knockdown. Roach’s performance confirmed what insiders had long said: he is a difficult assignment for anyone, regardless of profile or popularity.
Still, Roach believes boxing’s obsession with followings and social media continues to overshadow fighters who earn opportunities the hard way. “It’s definitely not about who has the biggest following,” he said. “There’s a lot of good fights and a lot of fighters that are world-class that people don't know about.”
Image Credit: The Ring