In a jaw-dropping turn of events, Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-2, 10 KOs) has withdrawn from his highly anticipated rematch against WBA lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (29-0-1, 27 KOs), scheduled for August 16, 2025, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The announcement, made earlier today by Roach’s team, has left boxing fans reeling with a mix of shock, disappointment, and outright fury.
The rematch was set to settle the score after their controversial majority draw on March 1, 2025, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. That fight saw Roach push Davis to the brink, with many believing Roach deserved the win after Davis took a knee in the ninth round—a moment that wasn’t ruled as a knockdown, leading to a 115-113 score for Davis and two 114-114 cards. The draw sparked heated debates, with figures like David Benavidez and Joe Rogan suggesting Roach was robbed, while Terence Crawford opined that Roach couldn’t improve on his performance in a rematch.
Roach’s camp cited an undisclosed injury as the reason for the withdrawal, stating, “Lamont has been dealing with a setback in training camp that prevents him from competing at his best. He’s devastated but needs to prioritize his health.” However, the vague explanation has done little to quell the frustration among fans, many of whom took to social media to vent their anger. One fan posted on X, “Roach pulls out after all that hype? This is a disgrace to boxing!” Another wrote, “Tank deserves better—Roach is ducking him after talking big!”
The buildup to the rematch had been intense. Davis, who recently debuted a new hairstyle—ditching the braids he blamed for his struggles in the first fight—appeared focused and ready, as noted by fans reacting to his recent social media posts. Meanwhile, Roach had been vocal about his confidence, even revealing a surprising “cordial friendship” with Davis outside the ring, despite their competitive tension. His teammate Ben Johnson had previously told Sports Illustrated that Roach believed he won the first fight, a sentiment echoed by many in the boxing community.
The cancellation raises questions about Davis’ next move. The 30-year-old Baltimore native has been under scrutiny for his opponent selection, with some fans accusing him of avoiding tougher challenges like Shakur Stevenson, who recently called out Davis for considering an exhibition with Jake Paul. Davis had reportedly missed out on a lucrative payday against Paul due to the draw with Roach, a fact Roach himself highlighted in an April interview, noting the financial stakes involved.
For Roach, this withdrawal could damage his reputation. Fans had already criticized him in April for celebrating the draw like a victory, with some accusing him of going on a “victory tour” while Davis trained for the rematch. Now, with the fight off, Roach faces an uphill battle to regain credibility, especially after the boxing world had rallied behind the narrative of his redemption arc.
The financial implications are also significant. The first fight’s gate and PPV numbers, revealed on April 7, 2025, by Boxing Kingdom, were massive, and the rematch was expected to surpass them, as reported by Sports Illustrated. With the event now in jeopardy, promoters at PBC and Prime Video, who were set to broadcast the pay-per-view, are scrambling to find a replacement opponent for Davis.
As the boxing world digests this shocking news, the future remains uncertain. Will Davis find a new challenger for August 16, or will this derail his momentum? And can Roach recover from this setback—both physically and in the eyes of fans? One thing is clear: the fallout from this cancellation will reverberate through the sport for months to come.
