Jay L. Davis: “Tank, Please Step-up Your Competition!”
Tank Davis could end up being dominated like the once undefeated Jeff “Left Hook” Lacy if he picks the wrong top-tier opponent. Lacy was 21-0 with 17 knockouts, four IBF title defenses and terrorizing the super middleweight division before attempting to unify with 40-0 WBO champion Joe Calzaghe on March 4, 2006. Although a 2-1 favorite due to his incapacitating punching power, Lacy was dominated over twelve rounds which included a knockdown in the final round. What looked to be a dangerous fight on paper for Calzaghe ended up being one of the easiest fights of his career. Tank Davis should take note of Jeff Lacy’s career for avoiding similar pitfalls.
Although Jeff Lacy would win six out of his final eleven fights after this loss, he would never be the same in being completely out-classed five more times and never holding another major title before retiring in 2015. While Tank Davis has held multiple titles in different weight classes, his level of competition compared to the names from lightweight to junior welterweight that can present a challenge is left to be desired. Furthermore, struggling against a sub-par WBA “regular” champion from a lower division like Lamont Roach does not help Davis’ cause.
Damn I remember when Lacy fought Calzaghe. First off he agreed to fight in Wales and then didn’t travel there until 2 weeks before the fight. I knew then he was going to lose, I already had Calzagne cause of his boxing ability and RING IQ. But nobody expected Lacy to get beat like that.
Tank risks losing to someone like Shakur Stevenson like this. While he more skilled than Jeff Lacy, the cheeey-picked fighters on his resume did not prepare him for someone like Lamont Roach…let alone Stevenson.