Davis and Roach, Jr. Fight To Majority Draw–Davis Retains His Belt

Brooklyn, NY

Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr

By Ron Harris – In what turned out to be Gervonta “Tank” Davis’s hardest fight, childhood rival Lamont Roach, Jr. proved he is the only opponent in Davis’s 31 pro fights that could stand toe to toe and go the distance.   The judge’s ruled a Majority Draw.  It was that close and not many fans could argue, although this fight played out like a soap opera.  The scores were 115-113 for Davis and 114-114, twice.  All judges had Roach winning the last round, which gave him the draw. 

Davis used his winning strategy of gathering intel on his opponents early in the fight and then pouncing on them for the knockout.  Except Roach was gathering his own intel from knowing Tank from years past.  He showed no fear and proved every so-called boxing expert wrong.  He didn’t seem to surprise himself at all.   “This is every day for me, I ain’t gonna lie.  I’m cut like this,” says Roach with a straight face.  “I’ve been one of the ones and I came out here and showed it.”

Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr

Roach took some of Davis’s hardest shots to the body and the head.  He never flinched.  He landed several combinations and even staggered Davis once.  Roach holds the Jr Lightweight belt (130) and he was trying to become a two-division champion by taking Davis’s belt at Lightweight (135). 

Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr

In the bizarre 9^th round, things got even more soap operaish.  For some unknown reason, Tank took a knee.  Usually that means a fighter is injured or uncomfortable in some way and is conceding the round.  But Davis sprung up as if he realized he was giving Roach a 2-point round.  He shot over to his corner and they wiped his face with a towel, and he wanted to continue to fight.  The referee, Steve Willis, a veteran ref, seemed stunned and surprised like everyone else.    For some unknown reason, Willis decided to let Davis continue with the round without ruling a knock down, even though Tank took a knee.  “It should have been a knock down.  If that was a knock down, I win the fight,” says a dejected Roach after the fight.  “I am not banking on the knock down, I just thought I pulled it out.”  As it turned out, Roach needed the final round on all cards to just get the draw. 

Davis said some kind of hair grease got in his eyes.  But he acted like he didn’t know the rules when he took a knee.  Davis thinks he is the reason this fight was so competitive.  “I made it competitive, to be honest,” says Tank.  “For sure Lamont is a great fighter.  He got the skills and the punching power.  It was a lesson learned.  Shout out to Lamont and his whole team.  We should run it back in New York, but if not, all the best to Lamont and his whole team.”  If ever there is a need for a rematch, this is it.  It got even more unusual when veteran DC trainer Barry Hunter worked the corner of Baltimore’s Tank Davis against a DC fighter like Roach.  But it was all hugs after the hard-fought match.  The winner in all of this is Lamont Roach, Jr.  He proved he belongs hunting with the big boys and has a bright future in boxing.  Like he said, “he’s cut like this.”

Photo Credit: Esther Lin

Russell Family Captures Another World Championship Belt

Brooklyn, NY

By Ron Harris – Gary Antuanne Russell matched his older brother Gary Russell, Jr. with a world championship belt with nearly a perfect performance beating Jose Valenzuela to win the World Boxing Association super lightweight championship, (140 lbs.).  Nearly perfect because 2 judges saw Valenzuela winning one round.  It was hard to see which round that was.  The scores were 120-108, 119-109 twice.  This may have been Russell’s best performance as a pro. 

Coming off his only loss, Russell had the look in his eyes saying, not this time.  He started fast, as he usually does, but kept the pressure on Valenzuela, 25, for 12 rounds.  Boxing is a sport where one loss can put a fighter in the back of the pack.  Russell 18-1 never gave Valenzuela 14-3 one inch in the entire fight.  Russell said he learned two things from his only loss.  “Listen and be patient.  You must listen to your instructions and be patient.  I learned that from my last fight,” said Russell.  “A rule of thump in this profession is you follow instructions.  My brother always told me the difference between good and great is inches or centimeters and the ability to produce, because that’s what it takes.”

Jose Valenzuela vs Gary Antuanne RussellAlberto Puello vs Sandor Martin

Valenzuela made some comments before the fight about Russell, 28, being a fighter that does the same thing in the ring, and he was nothing “special” and he would take advantage of it.  “Yes, that motivated me,” said Russell.  “It motivated me a hell of a lot.  In this sport, you have to be dominant. You have to have a mentality that is rough, and he brought that out in me.”

The patriarch of the Russell’s, Gary Sr, was not there to see his youngest fighting son gain the throne, but he was all over that ring after the words, “and the NEW” were announced by Jimmy Lennon Jr. at Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY.  “My father would be proud of me,” reflected Russell. “This is a steppingstone.  In a marathon, you stop for water and keep towards the finish line and keep going toward the next.  I am coming for all belts.”  Tears were flowing from all the Russell boys. 

A normally confident Valenzuela was disappointed and said, “It just wasn’t my night tonight. His speed got to me a little, and I was slow on my feet.  No excuses. I have to make adjustments.  Go back to the drawing board and come out stronger from this and bounce back like I know I can.”

Antuanne Russell showed what true champions do after taking a loss.  He came out determined and left no doubt in the judge’s minds tonight.  All but the two judges that found 2 rounds that Valenzuela won.  Many people are still looking.  Russell joins Lamont Roach, Jr. as a Washington, DC fighter holding a world championship belt.  Like old times in the DC area. 

Photo Credit: Esther Lin

Ron Harris is a retired college administrator, coach, broadcaster, Internet and TV sports producer and host.  He’s also a former radio host of a live call-in show.  Ron has been a mainstay of the Washington DC area sports landscape for decades covering all the major professional sports, college sports, boxing and more.