Gervonta Davis names the hardest puncher he faced

Gervonta Davis has revealed his most powerful opponent in a professional ring, admitting that each attack “felt like bricks” were being launched at his head.

The American has not fought since his highly-contentious draw with Lamont Roach in March 2025, when many felt he was fortunate to retain his WBA world lightweight title.

This was largely because ‘Tank’ chose to take a knee in round nine, only for referee Steve Willis not to rule it as a knockdown.

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A 10-8 round, however, would have seen Roach score a sizable upset by dethroning Davis, whose reputation has since been drenched in controversy on account of him being arrested for domestic violence.

Prior to that, ‘Tank’ was supposed to face Jake Paul in an exhibition match last November, only to be removed from the event over allegations of false imprisonment, battery and attempted kidnapping.

It now remains unclear whether the 31-year-old will return to action, yet there is far more certainty when it comes to who hit him the hardest in a professional ring.

Speaking with Fight Hype, Davis insisted that Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, the current WBA welterweight champion, deserves to be credited for possessing such power.

“I ain’t gonna lie: ‘Rolly’ hit hard. People be sleeping on ‘Rolly’ – he don’t got no chin down, so ‘Rolly’ be getting caught. But he can hit.

“He’s the only person [against whom] I ever felt [such power]. When he swung, it felt like bricks.”

Romero squared off with Davis back in 2022, suffering a sixth-round stoppage defeat in their lightweight encounter, but has since reinvented himself as a sturdy champion at 147lbs.

The American’s unanimous decision victory over Ryan Garcia, in May 2025, saw him capture the WBA ‘Regular’ title, before being upgraded to full champion later that year.

Davis, meanwhile, has been made WBA lightweight ‘champion in recess’ due to his inactivity and legal troubles.

Gervonta Davis accused of avoiding rematch of controversial fight which led to big inquest

Gervonta Davis has been accused of deliberately ignoring a sequel with Lamont Roach, a fight which ended in huge controversy.

In Davis’ last outing, he was held to a contentious draw with Lamont Roach last March, which many believed was unfortunate for the title challenger.

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During the bout, Davis voluntarily took a knee in a moment which wasn’t scored a knockdown much to the frustration of Roach’s camp.

The bout was subject to investigation and it even saw a rule change that it would now be scored as such from now on in bouts.

A rematch was ordered but Davis instead signed for a showdown with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, an event which was later cancelled due to his legal issues outside of the ring.

Now over a year on from his last outing, he is now in advanced talks over a comeback second meeting with former rival Isaac Cruz.

It will come as a surprise to many that he didn’t plan to settle his wrong with Roach, whom has on many occasions pleaded for redemption.

The former world champion’s father believes it is telling that Davis has turned his attentions back towards Cruz.

He said: “Davis already beat Pitbull [Cruz].

“If he’s going to fight, everybody wants to see the rematch [with Roach]. Nobody is calling for that fight. He already beat him.

“It was a good fight but there was no question on who won the fight. Tank won that fight.

“To fight him over us I don’t see the logic in that. We can’t get these guys back in the ring with us so that says a lot about my son.”

Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach – world titles this year?

For Davis it has been a turbulent period inside and outside of the ring.

And given he was subject to an arrest warrant for domestic violence allegations, he was stripped of his WBA lightweight title.

Davis is still considered the ‘champion in recess’, and does have the right to challenge for the belt, which could be on the line against Cruz.

Of course if he takes victory, a showdown with Roach will once again face louder growing calls again.

Particularly given his fellow countryman looks in line to challenge for a world title of his own.

Roach has been ordered to face William Zepeda for the WBC vacant lightweight title next, and a victory would give Davis more incentive to renew their rivalry.

Gervonta Davis looks set to return to the ring this year but he has already been criticised for seemingly avoiding one fight in particular.

Davis is a three-weight world champion, holding gold at super featherweight, lightweight and super lightweight throughout his career.

His most recent reign came at 135lbs, where he held the WBA title before being stripped of his belt late last year.

That came after ‘Tank’ was involved in legal trouble, with an arrest warrant issued for domestic violence accusations. It means it’s been over 12 months since his last bout – Lamont Roach in March 2025.

READ: “Gervonta is not a bad dude”: Despite Arrest Controversy Rolly Romero Shows Support for Gervonta Davis

It was a close fight which ended in a majority decision draw, though a lot of boxing fans felt that Roach had done enough to earn the victory and hand Davis his first loss, especially after a potential knockdown wasn’t awarded to the challenger.

Despite the controversy, a rematch hasn’t materialised, and ‘Tank’ has instead stated his desire to face Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz next, a man that he beat back in 2021. The fight is reportedly in talks to be staged in summer.

That is something that Roach’s father and trainer Lamont Sr isn’t happy about. He told Mill City Boxing that Davis is avoiding the fight that the fans want to see.

“Davis already beat Pitbull. If he’s going to fight, everybody wants to see the rematch [with Roach]. Nobody calling for [the Pitbull fight]. He already beat him.

“It was a good fight but there was no question on who won the fight. Tank won that fight. To fight him over us I don’t see the logic in that. We can’t get these guys back in the ring with us so that says a lot about my son.”

Roach fought Cruz himself in December, with their clash for the interim WBC super-lightweight title also ending in a majority decision draw.

While it looks like he will miss out on a clash with Davis, Roach could fight for the WBC lightweight title, after the governing body recently ordered a fight against William Zepeda for the vacant belt.

Rolly Romero Shows Support for Gervonta Davis Despite Arrest Controversy

While the boxing world distances itself from Gervonta Davis amid serious criminal charges, an unlikely voice has emerged to defend him.

The former WBA lightweight champion was arrested in Miami on January 28 on charges of battery, false imprisonment, and attempted kidnapping. According to reports, ‘Tank’ allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend, Courtney Rossel, in October of last year. He has since been released from prison after posting an $8,500 bond along with a “no contact” order. Despite the severity of the incident and the allegations made against him, a former rival of his, Rolando Romero, doesn’t think of him in the same way.

“I have so much love for Gervonta,” Romero told Brian Custer on the Last Stand Podcast recently. “It’s unbelievable the amount of love I have for him. Everything that he’s gone through, Gervonta is not a bad dude. I could see it in the soul. He’s not somebody who will sit down and plot [against] you… You can tell he’s just a reactive person. He has no hate. He has no true evil in his heart. I truly believe he’s a good man, and I know he’ll get through this all.”

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According to the police report, Gervonta Davis entered a strip club back on October 27 and had a confrontation with his ex-girlfriend. He then allegedly took the woman to a back room, where he attacked and restrained her. The report also states that Davis grabbed his ex by her hair and throat before threatening her, saying, “You think I would not find you.”

Gervonta Davis later took his ex-girlfriend to the club’s parking lot, where he released her. The two first met in 2022 and briefly dated for five months in 2025. However, their relationship eventually ended, after which she cut off all communication with Davis. Rossel has since filed a civil lawsuit against the Baltimore native, and as part of Davis’ release from prison, he has been ordered to have no contact with his ex-girlfriend.

The 31-year-old has a history of such incidents. However, most of them have been dropped. As of now, Gervonta Davis remains out of jail, and the latest reports reveal that he is in advanced talks with former rival Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz for a rematch this summer. The pair fought in December 2021 in Los Angeles, where Tank won via unanimous decision. As for Rolando Romero, he may be able to relate to Davis’ current situation.

Rolando Romero was once investigated for s—al assault ahead of his Gervonta Davis bout

‘Rolly’ Romero had been set to challenge Davis on December 5, 2021, in Los Angeles. But he was pulled from the bout in late October after a woman accused him on X and filed a report with the Henderson Police Department. Despite the allegation, the investigation later concluded without charges. According to the police report, the allegations did not meet the legal elements of s–ual assault.

“After ‘false accusations, having to miss out on opportunities, cheated out of my dream, and out of a massive amount of wealth,’ the investigation into the allegations made against me has been formally closed,” Romero addressed the outcome in an Instagram statement. “Charges were not filed because the allegations could not be substantiated, because, as I always stated, I am innocent.”

Romero later fought Gervonta Davis in May 2022, where he suffered a sixth-round knockout loss to Tank.

From the looks of things, Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero clearly believes Gervonta Davis will be exonerated. However, only time will tell whether the allegations against Davis turn out to be false, like in Romero’s case. While Romero sees a path to redemption for Davis, the boxer’s future now rests not in the ring but in the hands of the justice system.

Haney calls Tank Davis an underachiever, questions Cruz rematch

Haney says the Baltimore star has not tested himself against the best fighters in the sport

Devin Haney criticized Gervonta “Tank” Davis, calling the unbeaten star an underachiever. Haney said Davis has not tested himself against the best fighters in the sport.

Haney believes Davis possesses elite ability but has not built the kind of career that should accompany that level of skill. The former undisputed lightweight champion pointed to Gervonta’s activity level and choice of opponents as reasons he believes the Baltimore fighter has fallen short of what his ability could produce. “Gervonta Davis, I think he’s a really good fighter.

READ: Gervonta Davis close to securing comeback fight as opponent na

He’s an underachiever,” Haney said to InsideRingShow. “I think he has so much talent. I believe his outside of the ring issues stop him from reaching his full potential, and him not wanting to test himself against the best fighters in the world. A guy like ‘Pitbull’ Cruz is a fight that no one asked for.”

Some fans quickly came to Davis’s defense on social media by pointing to his 2023 seventh-round stoppage of Ryan Garcia. The result remains a common comparison point because Garcia later upset Haney in April 2024, dropping him three times on the way to a decision victory.

For Davis supporters, that chain of results is used to argue that Haney’s criticism carries less weight. Devin’s remarks arrive as Gervonta and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz move closer to a second fight. Several boxing outlets have reported that the two sides are in advanced discussions for a rematch expected sometime this summer, although no date or venue has been finalized.

Their first meeting came in December 2021 at lightweight, when Tank won a close unanimous decision after twelve competitive rounds. Pitbull’s pressure made the fight one of the toughest nights of Davis’s career, and the Mexican contender has pursued a second meeting ever since.

Talks for a rematch are expected to place the fight at 140 pounds rather than the 135-pound limit used in their first meeting. Issac’s team has pushed publicly for the second bout for months, arguing that the original meeting left unfinished business between the two fighters.

Haney has long been linked to Gervonta in fan discussions about the best fights available around lightweight and light welterweight. His criticism reflects a view held by some observers who believe Davis’s power and ability have not always been matched by the level of opposition he has faced.

Tank remains one of boxing’s biggest attractions, but the list of elite opponents on his record is still thinner than many expected at this stage of his career. Devin’s point is direct: the talent has never been in question, yet the biggest tests have appeared less often than they should.

Gervonta Davis close to securing comeback fight as opponent named

Gervonta Davis appears to be on the brink of confirming his return to the ring.

Davis was last in action in March 2025 when he was held to a majority decision draw against Lamont Roach in a defence of his WBA lightweight title.

It was a controversial result, with many feeling that Roach did enough to get the nod, especially after a knockdown wasn’t awarded in his favour after ‘Tank’ voluntarily chose to take a knee in round nine.

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The 12 months that followed have left many questioning if Davis would ever be back in action at all. A planned exhibition with Jake Paul in November was cancelled due to the Baltimore man being named in a civil lawsuit regarding domestic allegations, just the latest in a string of issues outside of the ropes.

Further drama materialised after an arrest warrant was issued for ‘Tank’ citing similar accusations, leading to him to be stripped of his WBA lightweight title.

Despite all of that, Davis does now look set to return, after it was reported by Mike Coppinger that he is in advanced talks for a clash against Isaac Cruz, a man that ‘Tank’ named as his number one target late last year.

Davis has already secured a win over Cruz, who was last in action in December when he fought to a majority decision draw with former ‘Tank’ foe Roach – the man most feel should be getting the chance to face him again.

Gervonta Davis had his world title taken before fighting Ryan Garcia’s easiest opponent

Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is now 30-0-1 after drawing with Lamont Roach Jr. in his most recent outing.

The fight marked Davis’ first time falling shy of a victory, and one of just two times he has gone the full 12-round distance.

However, this isn’t the only stain on his record, as in 2017, after just one defense of his world title, Davis was stripped of the super-featherweight belt.

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Gervonta Davis was stripped of his title after missing weight ahead of fight with Francisco Fonseca

Davis knocked out Jose Pedraza to win the IBF super-featherweight title before defending just once in London against Liam Walsh.

After that he was matched up with 19-0-1 Francisco Fonseca, but was unable to defend his belt against him as he was stripped of it after missing weight, making it only on the line for Fonseca.

Fonseca would not win the title, though, as Davis, who lost to Joet Gonzalez as an amateur, won by eighth-round stoppage, handing Fonseca his first pro defeat.

Three years later, Ryan Garcia knocked Fonseca out in the opening round to set up a world title shot against Luke Campbell, doing what took Davis eight rounds in just one.

Ryan Garcia was seen crying after his second career defeat

Garcia lost for the second time in his career, and first time on points, in his last fight, when underdog Rolly Romero spoiled the party with a major upset over an unimpressive-looking Garcia.

The star was supposed to secure a win to set up a rematch with Devin Haney, but it is unclear if that fight will still go ahead. Floyd Mayweather predicted Romero vs Garcia six years ago.

Garcia was seen crying in his car on social media immediately after the devastating loss.