As it appears, Team Gervonta Davis and Team Lamont Roach Jr. have reached a mutual understanding. A tentative timeline is now in place for their much-anticipated rematch. Their first encounter on March 1 is already etched in modern boxing lore. It was a fight that brimmed with drama. Thwarted by a sudden twist, a potential upset preceded a highly controversial decision.

To settle the score, the two will run it back. For Gervonta Davis, this isn’t just another fight. Following a performance that drew heavy criticism, it’s a chance to reaffirm his place at the top. He must beat Lamont Roach Jr. convincingly to silence doubters and remind the world why he remains one of boxing’s biggest stars. For Roach Jr., the rematch carries even more weight. He came agonizingly close to handing Davis his first defeat. But the scorecards denied him the feat. Now, he gets a second chance not just to right that wrong but to add Tank’s name to his resume and etch his own place in history. And it’s worth noting: Roach turned down a potentially career-elevating move to make this fight happen.

Knew it was coming from the jump

A key revelation emerged during Roach’s recent appearance on the ‘All The Smoke Fight.’ Roughly halfway through the episode, Andre Ward asked the burning question: when did the first signs of the Gervonta Davis fight emerge? According to Roach Jr., he always felt it was inevitable. When Tank won his first title at 130 lbs., the same weight class Roach was competing in, he sensed their paths would cross sooner or later. He respected Tank’s skills. Always knew he was good. Given Tank is a smaller guy physically, Roach didn’t think he’d jump too far up in weight. So it made sense that they’d eventually meet.

When Tank fought Hector Luis Garcia, Roach revealed that he actually received a call. He was being considered as a potential opponent. At the time, he was already the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s title, but Tank’s team was reportedly weighing their options. Though Garcia was ultimately chosen, Roach and his team immediately said yes to the opportunity and waited for confirmation.

So Roach recalled the exact moment that call came in. He and his father were driving home from a Washington Commanders game in Tampa when his father got the call from TGB Promotions and Team Davis. Once his dad hung up, Roach asked him about it. His dad said it was TGB Promotions and Team Tank asking if they wanted the fight. Eavesdropping, Roach knew something big was happening. When the call ended and his father confirmed it was an offer to fight Davis, Roach reacted, “Oh yeah, couldn’t wait.”

Lamont Roach Jr.: Turned down more for a shot at greatness

“So then like when it really like when we really started talking business, that’s when we started weighing our options for real,” said Lamont Roach Jr. However, on the same token, he revealed that he had ‘something on the table.’ “I had something on the table,” he said.

Now, having said that, there’s a strong possibility people might think he took the Tank fight purely for the big payday. So he wanted to allay the misconception. “So people who think I’m taking this fight for money, it wasn’t the thing because I actually had an offer that was higher than the Tank fight,” Roach Jr. revealed.

He had to defend his title. But he turned that down for the Gervonta fight. Why? Because it wasn’t just about the check. This is prizefighting, and of course, the money matters. But more than that, the opportunity is what drew him in.

Sharing why he went ahead with the Tank fight, Lamont Roach Jr. said, “One, it is a bag. But two look at what they going look at what they consider him now The most dangerous fighters are some of the most dangerous fighters in the world.” Beating Tank would catapult Roach into the elite. He’d become a two-division world champ and enter pound-for-pound discussions. That kind of opportunity doesn’t come around often. He didn’t want to ‘smoke some random dude’ and risk the window closing on a legacy-defining fight.

As this rematch builds momentum, fans now have a clearer picture of what Roach sacrificed to make it happen. The stakes are even higher this time. For Lamont Roach Jr., it’s more than just redemption. It’s a chance to reshape the landscape of boxing.

What’s your take? Can Roach Jr. finally dethrone Gervonta Davis?