Boxing superstar and reigning WBA Lightweight World Champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis and WBA Super Featherweight World Champion Lamont Roach kicked off fight week events on Wednesday with a media workout before they square off for Davis’ title this Saturday, March 1 headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video from Barclays Center in Brooklyn. (photos by Rey Del Rio)

Lamont Roach knows his position in the sport of boxing. He also knows how to play it well. Practically everyone that stands in front of Gervonta Davis has to play a secondary role. The 30-year-old is a pound-for-pound star and one of the most recognizable faces in the sport. From kissing babies to signing autographs, Davis’ chokehold on stardom isn’t losing its grip.

WBA super featherweight world champion and Washington, D.C.-native Lamont Roach held a media workout in his hometown Thursday before he battles boxing superstar Gervonta “Tank” Davis for Davis’ WBA Lightweight World Championship headlining a PBC Pay-Per-View event on Prime Video on Saturday, March 1 from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Lamont Roach is in a boat all by himself. For the 29-year-old, nothing came easy. After putting together an undefeated record for half a decade, Roach came out on the losing end in his first world title shot against Jamel Herring in 2019.

There isn’t much that Gervonta Davis can say, or do, that will shock you. We’ve heard him threaten his opponents. We’ve also seen him send them to the hospital. Seeing him step out of the coolest sports cars and wearing thousands of dollars worth of jewelry also isn’t surprising. With that said, what he revealed a few months ago, left nearly everyone speechless.

Lamont Roach doesn’t mind giving anyone their props, even an upcoming opponent. Gervonta Davis receives his fair share of criticism. Some lambaste his resume. Others have heavily dismissed his skill set. Some have also downplayed his place in the sport. Roach though, doesn’t believe those critiques have any legs to stand on.

Of course, Gervonta Davis is focused on winning but more than anything, he makes it his job to test the willpower and determination of his opponents. In other words, how badly do you want it?

Although he throws his blinders on, puts his head down, and continues to put in the work, it’s almost impossible to ignore the criticism at this point. Gervonta Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) is viewed as a global superstar, one of the faces of boxing, and one of the best fighters on the planet. So, naturally, pundits and fans expect him to fight the best of the best. And, for as good as Lamont Roach has been in his career, in the eyes of many, he’s never been viewed as that.

Say what you want about Gervonta Davis, most consider him a great fighter. Lamont Roach, by and large, knows exactly what he’s up against. Well before he was told that Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) would be next up, Roach studied him from a distance. Now, with his shot in the spotlight coming up in just under two months, Roach promised to avoid the same mistakes as those who came before him.

Gary Russell Jr. has always been ambivalent towards Gervonta Davis. Does he have knockout power? Considering that most of his opponents end up in the hospital after they get it on, the answer is obvious. How about his skills? Russell believes it’s practically second to none. However, the former WBC featherweight champ doesn’t respect Davis’ level of opposition.