FANS have been eagerly awaiting the return of WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis, 30-0 (28KOs), but his showdown with Lamont Roach Jr, 25-1-1 (10 KOs), is still yet to go ahead after a near three-month postponement.
However, despite recent rumours that the event could be cancelled altogether, it seems as though Tank vs Roach has been given the all-clear, with an intriguing undercard for the event now officially confirmed.
‘Tank’ halted Frank Martin with a knockout of the year contender in his lone outing of 2024, in what was the first defence of his full WBA world title since being upgraded from being the WBA (Regular) champion. As a result, Davis will have fought just eight rounds in 23 months when he goes toe-to-toe with the reigning WBA super-featherweight champion Roach in five weeks’ time.
Yet, regardless of that inactivity, Davis has received heaps of merciless criticism for failing to fight a recognised lightweight contender upon his comeback, with many fans now beginning to question the quality of his résumé.
Nevertheless, the Baltimore-born knockout artist will seek to prove that he is still a threat to both the pound-for-pound throne and the ‘face of boxing’ mantle by becoming the first man to stop Roach in the main event on March 1.
Three months after the initial announcement, PBC has now officially unveiled the undercard for the event, where three additional world title fights are on offer.
Jose Valenzuela, 14-2 (9 KOs), will seek to make the first defence of his WBA super-lightweight title since his upset win against Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz back in August. ‘Rayo’ will be tasked with Gary Antuanne Russell, 17-1 (17 KOs), even though Russell is coming into the bout off of a loss and has not registered a win since August 2023.
The man who handed Russell that loss was undefeated Dominican contender Alberto Puello, 23-0 (10 KOs), who claimed the WBC interim title in a split-decision win.
As a result, Puello has earned the shot to challenge for the vacant WBC super-lightweight title and will do so on this very bill against Spain’s Sandor Martin, 42-3 (15 KOs) in a refreshing bout between two contenders who have come up the hard way and fully deserve a bid at world honours.
Finally, Cuban super-welterweight prospect Yoenis Tellez, 9-0 (7 KOs), has got the 154lb titleholders in his sights and he will seek to take an additional step towards a challenge for the marbles as he collides with former IBF champion Julian Williams, 29-4-1 (17 KOs), with the WBA interim strap up for grabs.
