Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr. ‘Gloves Off’ Recap

Tank sure looks solid in gym footage, and he sounds like his head is on straight, despite his talk of imminent retirement. “This may be the most skillful person Tank has faced,” says vet trainer Barry Hunter of the DC area.

Tank Seduced By Silk Pajamas?

Oddsmakers are thinking Davis handles his business March 1, and this show won’t convince me otherwise. Yeah, it doesn’t seem as though Davis, despite his weariness with “the game” has succumbed to silk pajamas indolence.

One tidbit: Tank admits his biggest fear is embarrassment. “I’m not trying to go out and get my butt kicked,” he states.

Makes more sense now why he fights the way he does, strange for such a heavy-fisted type, taking in data and being risk averse for long stretches of early rounds. It’s about staying alive, about survival… which is understandable when factoring in his quite rugged upbringing.

Roach Says He Will Beat Tank’s A%s

We get more time with Roach, training in Plant City, Fla. “I think that I’m gonna beat his a%s,” he says, with a chuckle. How much does he believe that? Only he knows the real deal.

Roach can cook, we see. “The Reaper” seems light in camp, no surprise, he’s a lifer. He like Tank has negotiated the in and out of the ring ups and downs. “He’s a wild card,” says Roach of Tank, citing last month’s rumor that the fight was off. Was it Tank exerting power to get more guaranteed money? That’s a good guess.

Episode 2 Shows Deeper Inside Tank

Episode 2 from “Prime Video Sports” actually gave us more knowledge of Davis. During an interview, he is asked about his mental health. In the last two years, he’s admitted that his past left scars, and he thinks therapy will be useful to more fully heal. The implication is that retirement will give him more time to pursue that desire.

The narrator calls this “a classic DC versus Baltimore showdown.” That construct isn’t time honored like “Puerto Rican versus Mexican” pairing, is it? Tank doesn’t come off a bit worried, but neither does he seem overconfident.

Tank speaks of liking the venue. He notes his IG boasts more NY area followers than Marylanders, so he is fond of the location. Roach is seen doing a video call with his son. “I’m glad he’s gonna be able to witness this,” which what would be a massive career best.

He is 29, and like Davis has put up with of the ring machinations…yet perseveres. He references a loss, to Jamel Herring (in 2019).  Depression ensued, Roach admitted. “I got my toolbag and went to work,” he said. Four years later, he stepped up, fighting Hector Luis Garcia, notching the decision. Tank has faced and felled Garcia, for the record.

Roach says a laundry list of attributes, but says he does to Mmmm… minus that power, which is possessed by “the most explosive man in boxing.”

If there were hints that Tank’s head wasn’t quite right, I’d be more inclined to consider “The Reaper” scooping up an Upset of the Year candidate. Roach is solid, but his power is fairly average. That could result in Tank doing less intel collection than normal, and an early-ish trip to the showers, to clear the head trauma drama. His skill set should bring him into the later rounds, where pride will keep him aloft, until it doesn’t. Prediction: Tank by stoppage, round 10.