The upcoming pay-per-view fight between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jnr on December 14 in Houston will be the first time they have fought as pros – but their third meeting overall.
“We competed twice before in two close fights in the amateurs,” Roach said in an interview with Naji Grampus of “Cigar Talk.” ”Honestly, if you ask him, he’ll probably tell you that I am one of his better opponents to date.”
Those amateur fights took place in 2011, back when the fighters were both teenagers. Davis, who was born in November 1994, was 16 at the time, while Roach, born in August 1995, was approaching his 16th birthday. They’re both now 29 years old. Davis is the WBA lightweight titleholder, while Roach is the WBA junior lightweight titleholder.
They also sparred as kids, Roach said.
Roach says the footage that’s on YouTube (which has an upload date of May 2011) is from the regional championships for the Junior Olympics. Roach is from the Washington, D.C., area while Davis hails from Baltimore.
“They took a point from him and then they took a point from me that I don’t think that they were supposed to,” Roach said. “We sent it to USA Boxing and they granted me an at-large bid to go to the nationals. It was like, ‘OK, maybe that point should’ve been taken.’ They put us on two sides of the bracket and we met up in the championship of the nationals.
“He ended up winning a close fight again. I don’t think he should’ve won. It wasn’t home cooking. It was like a point system. The score was like 2-1 after the first round. After the second round, it was like 5-3. I think he beat me by like four points.”
According to a report at the time on the DC Amateur Boxing blog, the rematch took place in early August 2011 in the 125-pound weight class, with Davis winning by the score of 14-6.
“We made it to the championship for a reason,” Roach said. “One and two in the nation. It’s always been like that. In the area, we always been the best two fighters. He won the national Golden Gloves in 2012. I won the national Golden Gloves in 2013, when I was old enough to go. I was 17. He turned pro before me. I think he stopped fighting in the amateurs before me. After he stopped, I kept doing my thing. I was No. 1 in the nation. We both have a history of being the best in our area. And now we have the history of being the best in the world.”
Given their lengthy history and familiarity, Roach has seen how much Davis has improved from his amateur days.
“He’s definitely different. He’s definitely better. He’s world-class better. Just like I am,” Roach said. “He’s a world-class fighter. He’s where he’s at for a reason. I’m a fan of him. That motherfucker can fight. I know what I’m capable of. I’m one of them. So why not show the world? Why not show him? That’s what we’re supposed to do.”
One big difference? The power that has brought Davis to 30-0 with 28 knockouts.
“He wasn’t really like no devastating knockout puncher or nothing like that when we was kids,” Roach said. “People would consider me more of a power puncher in the amateurs rather than now, except for the people that be in the ring with me.”
Roach is 25-1-1 (10 KOs). In June, he stopped Feargal McCrory in the eighth round.
David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2 and @UnitedBoxingPod. He is the co-host of the United Boxing Podcast. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.
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