Gervonta Davis and Rolando Romero meet Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. An interesting feud in the prospect or a completely false match? Luke G. Williams previews the action…
It’s hard to think of an active professional boxer whose career trajectory takes a more difficult path than Gervonta Davis.
Skill wise, the 27-year-old from Baltimore has it all. He can punch, he can box and his technique and school is great. There is also an edge of cruelty about the ‘Tank’; he’s interesting and engaging, and I would confidently choose him to beat most boxers in or around 135lbs. The boy has everything it takes to rule the boxing universe.
The problem is – from a sporting and perhaps even a business perspective – that his career has been mismanaged. ‘Tank’ may have won world ‘titles’ in three weight classes, but he has never ‘owned’ or dominated a weight class and he hasn’t fought with the best names and most dangerous in any division he has entered.
Yes, he has established himself as a good ticket seller and a regular ‘pay-per-view’ (although the buy rate is reported to be quite low), but can you imagine a How much bigger would Davis’ star be if he had actually fought against some of the top-level opposition, instead of entrusting his career to such grueling ‘low-risk playbooks’ to be recruited? Frequent and annoyed by Mayweather Promotions?
This weekend’s fight is a clearer illustration of how Davis has been left behind – in terms of legitimacy and legacy – by boxers in and around lightweight who are ready to throw the ball. finer. While Devin Haney – Davis’ junior – has traveled to Australia to face George Kambosos Jr for the unified lightweight crown, Davis is fighting another timed contest for a pointless item with the WBA against a man in Romero with barely any prospects, let alone an established performer.
Even taking into account the multitude of absurdities of the modern boxing scene, the reality is that the fight between Davis and a poorly equipped and under-equipped challenger like Romero is being sold as a ‘big event’. pay-per-view is both cynical and insane.
If Davis was properly prepared – and at Friday’s weigh-in, the fact that he didn’t have to fight the scales, as he did in the past, is a good sign – and fought with discipline. then he would win this contest outright, almost to shame. Romero’s forehand is heavy but crude, and there’s nothing in his career to suggest that he’s anything other than – at best – a top 20 lightweight.
The 26-year-old from Las Vegas might be 14-0 (12 KOs) but the only win of any note on his record was the fifth-round TKO of Sweden’s Anthony Yigit, who defied His heart and will is not a world-class performer. Romero can’t even claim an undefeated record – back in August 2020, most sane observers felt he was well-trained and beaten by Jackson Marinez, despite three The biographical judge somehow gifted the showdown with ‘Rolly’. (Marinez was then easily frozen by RIchard Commey.)
Sure, you can’t fault Romero’s ability to get into this fight and sell it once you’ve got it. In fact, he is a great talker. I mean, what about some good pre-battle rhetoric? “He [Davis] got a big head for me to hit. I won’t say what punch I’ll hit him with, but you’ll all see on Saturday night. This will end in a round. I’m ready to be violent in the ring. “
Of course, Davis (26-0, 24 KOs) also spoke well. The difference is, he can also fight, and his participation in this war is impossible to disagree with. “There are different levels when it comes to boxing. There are boxers and there are people who have been doing this since they were kids, It’s time for me to prove that I’m one of those guys who shouldn’t be playing. “
Given Romero’s strength, I reckon there’s a chance – albeit a slim one – for him to lure Davis into making some tempered errors and ice him early. After all, Davis is usually a slow starter, and he will likely approach this match with overconfidence.
Still, it’s a result – this paper almost won the Pulitzer Prize. In short, it won’t happen.
My pick is that Davis takes this win of his own accord. If Romero goes to war, it could end painfully early. If he only shows up in survival mode or ‘Tank’ decides to prolong the agony then perhaps Romero will be able to delay the inevitable and stretch somewhere around the mid rounds. If Davis does indeed retire, there is even a chance that Romero could go away, although I would be shocked if that happens.
What’s more of interest to me is what happens when this fight is over and Romero is out of lane. Here’s to hope that Davis – whose current deal with Mayweather Promotion ends with this fight – finds it reasonable to forgo the low-risk playstyle and aim for some proper challenge, before the potential is abundant. and his best years are wasted
