LAMONT Roach Jr has expressed an interest in taking on WBA world super-lightweight champion Jose Valenzuela after his clash with Gervonta Davis on March 1.
The 29-year-old will move up a division to face WBA lightweight titlist Davis, 30-0 (28 KOs), at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, headlining a PBC pay-per-view show on Prime Video.
Roach, 25-1-1 (10 KOs), however, has campaigned at 130lbs for the majority of his career, establishing himself as a defensively polished and highly-skilled operator.
The American claimed his WBA super-featherweight strap back in 2023, dethroning Hector Garcia with a split decision victory after flooring him in the 12th round.
A more emphatic performance last June then saw him successfully defend the trinket with a destructive eight-round demolition job against Feargal McCrory.
But now, while gearing up for what promises to be the toughest test of his career, Roach has set his sights on a potential move up to 140lbs.
Valenzuela, 14-2 (9 KOs), secured his WBA super-lightweight title last August, producing a measured and calculated display to outpoint dynamic bruiser Isaac Cruz.
Before that, though, ‘Rayo’ suffered back-to-back defeats against Edwin De Los Santos and Chris Colbert – who he then stopped in the sixth round of their immediate rematch – down at 135lbs.
Should he cause a sizable upset by beating Davis, a rematch clause would most likely force Roach to enter a second encounter with the pound-for-pound star later this year.
But still, as far as he is concerned, a possible dustup against Valenzuela could come to fruition soon after.
“[Valenzuela’s victory over Cruz] was his first fight at 140lbs, so he’s not a super big guy and is still growing into the weight,” Roach told Boxing News.
“I’m a nice size for 135lbs, and I think I’m a big 130 pounder when it comes to the way I carry my weight.
“I think me and ‘Rayo’ would be a good matchup at 140lbs, especially if [the WBA] lets us fight. [I was interested in fighting ‘Rayo’] before the [Davis] fight even presented itself.”
