Perhaps it will take some time. Ghosts of the Gervonta Davis–Lamont Roach Jr. bout continue to linger and haunt. The champion and the challenger have a rematch tentatively set for June. Hopefully, the second fight will put the debate to rest permanently. Yet, in light of how it transpired, conversations about the fight and its consequences persist.

Eddie Hearn was not connected with the PBC-Amazon Prime Video card that took place at New York’s Barclays Center. However, he had a vested interest in the outcome. Hearn and Matchroom’s rising star Shakur Stevenson have been eyeing a mega showdown with ‘Tank’ Davis. Now with the rematch appearing on the horizon, they are forced to rethink their approach. Most probably a wait-and-watch game, as Hearn explained to a Fight Hub TV reporter. Nonetheless, the Matchroom honcho couldn’t restrain himself from delivering a sharp critique of Davis, further fueling the embarrassment that snowballed alongside the controversy.

Obviously, the expectation was that Davis would move on to face Shakur Stevenson in a massive fight. But now there’s an obstacle (the controversy with Roach). Given a second fight taking form, the reporter sought Hearn’s opinion on whether Davis would come out on top in the rematch.

“Tank versus Roach 2. Obviously, um, we didn’t think this would become an issue. We were obviously talking about Tank versus Shakur in the biggest fight of this year or in boxing. There’s obviously been a hurdle. Will he get through the second fight, Gervonta?” The reporter asked.

Eddie Hearn doesn’t seem to believe. “Maybe not,” he said. According to Hearn, Davis should have lost the fight. Or, at the very least, had a point deducted. Basically, as most felt, Davis got away with infractions. Then he highlighted how some critics dismissed the matchup with Roach Jr. Hearn argued that insiders knew Roach was a strong opponent. His performance moreover validated that expectation. But to what end? The controversy seemingly benefited Davis.

Eddie Hearn on Gervonta Davis: Even in losing, you created complications!

Had Davis convincingly beaten Roach, he would have been pressured to fight Shakur Stevenson next. Now, thanks to controversy, he can justify a rematch with Roach, which has now grown into a bigger fight due to the disputed result.

“Cuz if he would have beaten Roach, he’s kind of backed in a corner to fight Shakur Stevenson, I think,” explained Eddie Hearn. Even if Davis is more focused in the second fight, Hearn acknowledged that Roach is a skilled fighter who could trouble him again.

Or perhaps the stars simply aren’t aligned for the Davis-Stevenson fight to happen just yet.

Stevenson is currently nursing a hand injury, so it may take some time before he completes his rehab and resumes training for his next fight. Meanwhile, Gervonta Davis has already hinted at having three more fights before his rumored retirement by year’s end. This increases the likelihood of a long-awaited unification bout between the lightweight champions, potentially joining the Canelo-Crawford showdown as one of the year’s marquee events.

What do you think? How would the lightweight division shake up if Roach Jr. manages to defeat Davis in their rematch?