Gervonta Davis Claims 2025 Will Be His Last Year in Boxing
According to Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0, 28 KOs), his boxing career is approaching its end. He insists he will hang up the gloves at the end of 2025. Should he keep up his word, it should be considered a major disappointment and a big mistake on his behalf.
Davis will defend the WBA lightweight title on March 1, 2025, against the reigning WBA 130-pound champion, Lamont Roach. During a press event to announce the fight, Tank was asked how he envisions 2025 going for him in the ring. The Baltimore resident said the following to the boxing media in attendance:
“After next year, I’m out of it […] out of this sport.”
After the presser, Davis claimed he was fed up with boxing and wanted to move on and focus on his financial endeavors outside of the sport. Many fans have reacted to Davis’s declaration with cynicism and outrage.
MORE TO ACCOMPLISH
Were he to call it a day at the end of next year, he would be 31 years old and still in his physical prime. The boxing public wants to see Davis engage in a lightweight unification fight with WBC champion Shakur Stevenson or move up to 140 pounds and battle WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez.
Unfortunately, Tank foolishly sees no value in fighting Stevenson. As of this writing, there’s been no word of any active negotiations to fight Lopez. Failure to make those fights happen would leave a giant void on Davis’s resume.
HE SIGNED UP FOR THIS
At the end of his seventh-round stoppage over Ryan Garcia in April 2023, Davis anointed himself as the face of the sport. If he feels that way, he must understand that the mantle comes with many responsibilities and a certain amount of pressure and expectation. To leave because he doesn’t want to deal with the stressors of superstardom, to some in the boxing community, is a sign that he’s caving into the pressure he placed on himself.
Fans of Davis would argue that their favorite fighter is more than in his right to walk away. After all, he’s a multi-divisional champion and financially secure for life. Why continue and risk possible damage in such a physically demanding sport?
Here’s the problem. Davis has yet to truly create his fistic legacy. Despite being a world champion since 2017, the native of Baltimore, Maryland, has yet to face an elite fighter. If he exits, fair enough. He’s given the public plenty of exciting and memorable moments. However, he cannot and should not be viewed as one of the greats of his era. At this young age, where would he be able to fulfill the thrill and excitement of boxing?
The reality is that Davis still has a lot to fight for. At this moment, Tank seems to be speaking emotionally and not thinking long-term. The hope is that he comes to his senses and has a change of heart.
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