Fans can heave a sigh of relief. After weeks of suspense, they now have a date for the much-anticipated rematch between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. Per available reports, though the venue is yet to be finalized, the lightweight champion and the super featherweight titleholder are now scheduled for a fight on August 16 in Las Vegas. The second fight follows the duo’s March 1 showdown that ended most controversially.

As it usually happens, the moment battle lines are drawn, discussions about the fight and the potential outcome promptly surface. It’s a different fact: Shakur Stevenson was surprised to learn that the Tank-Roach rematch has been scheduled. The WBC belt holder, who has been calling out Davis for a mega showdown, was in New York to kick off the fight against William Zepeda. Nevertheless, when asked about the Tank-Roach rematch, Stevenson had a very forthright perspective to share.

Shakur Stevenson: I’m putting my money on…

The moment a reporter stated, “We got the rematch announced today with him (Gervonta Davis) and Lamont Roach,” Stevenson shot back, “They announced it today?” The reporter continued. Stevenson was one of the few who picked Lamont Roach Jr. to give Davis a ‘tough fight’ the first time around. So what’s his take on the second match? Without beating around the bush, the Newark-born Olympian replied, “I think it’s dangerous for him to go back in there and fight Lamont. I think Lamont is a hell of a fighter. Um, I can see that going left, so, uh, he better be on his A game.”

To get a glimpse of where Stevenson tilted, his response to a previous query provides enough hints. A reporter asked him for his views on the potential Jake Paul-Gervonta Davis matchup. Stevenson said, “Man, Tank, it’s disrespectful to the sport if he chooses that over fighting with me. I’m the best fighter in the sport. I’ve been telling him that and he called cap on it.”

Obviously, Stevenson was pointing at claims that suggested Gervonta Davis had extended a fight contract to him.

The path to redemption

Notwithstanding the nitty-gritty, fans now stare at a bigger question. Will Tank Davis finally silence the critics who slammed him for a lackluster performance and his unsavory conduct on the March 1 fight? Or will Lamont Roach Jr. finally hand Tank a hitherto unthinkable ‘L’ and avenge the earlier decision that was unequivocally his to claim?

Davis is a well-known slow starter. His knockouts usually follow in the latter half of the fights. But he was in for a surprise when Lamont Roach Jr. forced him onto the back foot. Growing stronger with each round, many felt Roach Jr. was walking towards a huge upset. But come the ninth round, things changed when Tank took a voluntary knee. And he was barely penalized. Though Tank offered an explanation, what truly rubbed salt in the wound was the fight being declared a majority decision draw. The athletic commission also upheld the decision.

So it’s fair to assume that Lamont Roach Jr. will step into the ring with better preparation. Leaving the fate of the fight to the scorecards could be risky, perhaps.

What about you? How do you foresee Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach 2 unfolding?