NEW YORK – Of course Lamont Roach Jnr knows the weight he’s giving up and the power disparity that exists between him and unbeaten three-division champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis as they head to Saturday’s pay-per-view main event at Barclays Center.
He’s spent the better part of two months working to bridge those gaps, so it it was interesting to hear him assert his readiness for the destructive Davis, 30-0 (28 KOs).
In an extended interview with PPV.COM’s Jim Lampley Wednesday at the fighter workouts at legendary Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, Roach said he’s aiming to subject Davis to power and seek to make the 135-pound champion’s tendency for slow starts a point of regret.
“I’m feeling like Mike Tyson today,” Roach told Lampley. “I want to make it a fight where I’m comfortable in any style. I’m very adaptive and comfortable in any style. I want to make him think and adapt. My right hand is Thor’s hammer and I believe it will be very effective.”
Roach, 25-1-1 (10 KOs), has already embraced the intangibles that can strengthen him in this underdog attempt against Davis.
One, he spelled out why the Baltimore vs. Washington rivalry that exists in this bout matters.
“It heightens the intensity of the rivalry because there’s a natural tension between D.C. [where Roach resides] and Baltimore [Davis’ hometown],” Roach said. “We’re so close, but so different. They don’t want to be part of the DMV and we don’t count them as a part of us.”
He also feels the angst of two amateur losses to Davis.
“Oh yeah, that’s up my alley there, that really means a lot to me. This is fumed on competition and I’m glad we have that … as we showcase our skills again,” Roach said. “I want to come out the winner on the world stage, showcasing our skills again. I want to come out the winner and I’ve been doing everything I can to show that.
“This is the first time revenge has been a part of my fight. Outside the ring, he’s cool. He has personal vendettas with a lot of people but he and I have no issues. No slip-ups, no run-ins.”
Yet, the competitor in Roach has pushed him to prepare for Davis in the most thorough way possible.
“It’s going to be a long night for him if he starts slow. I’m a throwback fighter who could fight for 15 rounds if I needed. I don’t just say that to sound cool … .”
When Lampley asked if fight fans should expect mutual aggression, Roach answered, “That’s what I’m hoping for.”
While WBA lightweight champion Davis took some criticism for meeting WBA super-featherweight champion Roach when he’s taken on lighter foes before, Roach said expressed repeat confidence in his preparation as the fight beckons.
“My defense is – what’d Mike Tyson say – impregnable,” Roach said of answering Davis’ punching power he describes as “God-given.”
“I’m very versatile in there and my punch selection is one of my strong points. I can punch and carry my punch. I got the will of 1,000 men, I’m a servant to God, I’m a boxing fan and I’ll make this exciting for everyone.”
That’s quite a promise given Davis’ ability to bide his team and post stirring knockouts of the likes of Leo Santa Cruz, Ryan Garcia, Frank Martin, Rolando Romero and Mario Barrios.
Roach’s professionalism was definitely sharper Wednesday, when he spent more than an hour answering reporter questions and training in the gym while Davis turned in a brief, muted appearance at the workouts.
While Davis’ impressive profile has resulted in a near sellout at Barclays, his behavior Wednesday in blowing off print and video reporters who arrived in town for access to the popular champion served as encouragement to even more greatly shrink the traditional fight week.
It used to be that pay-per-view fighters would appear Tuesday at grand arrivals and provide nearly an hour of content about the upcoming fight. Now, the Wednesday workout was also rendered meaningless to help expose the bout.
Davis also has a rematch with Roach assured if he loses.
“Beside that, I’m already thinking unification,” Roach said. “I’m already in personal conversations with [WBC lightweight champion] Shakur [Stevenson]. He wants to fight the best. I know him. I’m already in talks. He’s very good at being defensive. We’d have to work on finding openings because he is a defensive wizard.”
There’ll be time enough for that.
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