Davis looks to defend his title vs Roach. Jr in “Battle of the beltway” at Barclays Center.
(Sat, March-1, 2025)—Two familiar foes will face off in a classic “Battle of the beltway” which is a reference to the highway that connects the hotbed of talent that is located throughout the DMV area (D.C, Maryland, Virginia). The DMV is the home of many world class fighters such as reigning WBA jr.lightweight World Champion Lamont Roach jr (25-1-1, 10KO), who will be moving up to the 135-pound lightweight division to challenge the undefeated fighting pride of Baltimore Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0, 28KO), for Davis’s WBA Lightweight World Championship in a scheduled [12-round] world title attraction taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Roach, 29, is coming off the first successful defense of his 130-pound WBA jr.light world title in a bout where he forced a 8th-round TKO stoppage over then unbeaten world title challenger Feargal McCrory (16-0, 8ko) of Ireland, in June of 2024. This will be the first attempt at a world title in the lightweight division (135-pounds) for Roach, after having campaigned most of his career at the jr.lightweight limit of 130-pounds. If successful Roach would become a two-division world champion.
Davis, 30, aka “Tank” is one of the biggest stars in the sport of boxing to date. Known for his crowd pleasing fight style Davis is coming off a 8th-round knockout over then undefeated world contender Frank Martin (18-0, 12ko), making it (7-of-8) of his last opponents that he has defeated by way off knockout. The history between both fighters dates back to their time fighting in the national amateur boxing tournaments, with Davis being declared the victor in both of the two fights against Roach.
Fans should also expect to see fireworks in the Co-featured bout of the evening as former USA Olympian Gary Antuanne Russell (17-1, 17ko) of Capital Heights, MD will get his second shot at a world title when he takes on reigning WBA 140-pound World Champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (14-2, 9ko) of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico in a scheduled [12-round] world title attraction.
Russell, 28, is looking to rebound after suffering his first career defeat to reigning WBC 140-pound champion Alberto Puello (22-0, 10ko) in July of 2024. For the 25yr old “Rayo” this will be the first attempt at defending his world title since he beat then title holder Isaac Cruz (26-2-1, 18ko) by a fairly decisive split-decision in August of 2024 to win the WBA crown.
World contender Sandor Martin (42-3, 15KO) of Spain makes his return to the ring following a year-long layoff, as he looks challenge reigning 140-pound WBC World Champion Alberto Puello (23-0, 10ko) of Dominican Republic in a scheduled [12-round] world title attraction for the WBC super-lightweight World Championship.