A title unification remains on his radar, but Shakur Stevenson has his doubts. Will Gervonta Davis budge from his laid-out stand? Thus far, no answers. But yesterday’s PBC-Amazon Prime card may have given him an excuse to rejoice. In front of a jam-packed crowd, Lamont Roach Jr. checked Davis to deliver a career-defining performance. What makes it so interesting is that Roach Jr. climbed up a division and humbled ‘Tank,’ scooping out a career-first majority draw. He, like many, felt that he deserved a win.

Perhaps, when Davis took a voluntary knee, had referee Steve Willis tagged a knockdown, the outcome could have been different. Despite a chipped record, Davis walked away with his title. With disappointment written over his face, Roach Jr. called for a rematch. But as much as he sounded positive about the prospect, Davis appeared evasive. It was time; Shakur Stevenson entered the scene and changed the equation.

Gervonta Davis on the Lamont Roach rematch: Later down the line, possibly

The poser couldn’t have been more clear. Given Gervonta Davis is considered one of the biggest names in boxing and has significant influence over his fight decisions, a reporter questioned whether he will actively push for the Roach rematch. “Do you want that rematch next, and if so, how likely is it that we’re, you know, going to see that fight happen again this year?” they asked.

“Uh, I’m not sure, bro. Uh, I’m definitely not sure, but hopefully we could get it before, and it probably won’t be this year,” replied Gervonta Davis. When the reporter checked whether the rematch was the one he wanted next. Davis affirmed that he wanted to face Roach Jr. once again, but ‘it’s not going to be the next.’

A subsequent report shared how earlier Lamont Roach had expressed hopes for fighting Shakur Stevenson. During the post-fight interview, regarding the future, Roach Jr. sounded open to a rematch and hoped to negotiate for it in his home region (DMV). But if that doesn’t happen, he was interested in a fight with Shakur Stevenson. ‘The Reaper’ appreciated Stevenson’s willingness to give him a title shot.

And the response he received? Recalling their sparring days, Shakur Stevenson tweeted, “He (Roach Jr.) got me ready for the Valdez fight; that’s also how I knew how the fight with him and Tank would go, frfr… Lamont, the truth would love to make this fight happen 🦾.”

The Newark-born champion just wound up with a title defense against Josh Padley. For one reason or another, the WBC champion saw multiple matchups caving in. In fact, last year, there were reports of Stevenson and Davis getting close to a fight. But as soon as it appeared, the news fizzled out.

Shakur Stevenson navigating challenges

Then Stevenson was supposed to fight Joe Cordina. But hand injuries prevent Stevenson from pursuing the fight on the Beterbiev-Bivol card. Hopes of a Zepeda clash were also dashed after it emerged the Mexican fighter had suffered an injury. Floyd Schofield took up the cudgel to face Shakur Stevenson on the Beterbiev-Bivol rematch undercard. But illness forced him to pull out at the eleventh hour. In between talks of a face-off with Gervonta Davis ebbed and flowed. It’s something even HE Turki Alalshikh badly hopes for.

But Gervonta Davis has yet to confirm. Under the circumstances, it will be good for both Shakur Stevenson and Lamont Roach Jr. to enter the ring together. If Stevenson wins, then his argument for fighting Davis, who, after a lackluster performance, has been reeling under embarrassment, stands to gain more strength.

Do you think Stevenson-Roach makes for a more exciting matchup than Davis-Roach 2?