WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis is facing a choice tougher than a 12th-round slugfest. What’s next for the Baltimore Bruiser? Let’s be real—nobody saw this coming. Not Davis. Not the fans. Not even the so-called experts. When WBA super featherweight champ Lamont Roach Jr. stepped up, most people thought it was a foregone conclusion. After all, Davis had already beaten him in the amateurs. Case closed, right?

Wrong. ‘The Reaper’ didn’t just survive—he thrived. Roach went the distance, traded blow for blow, and left the ring with a majority decision draw. Many fans were screaming ‘robbery.’ Suddenly, the man everyone overlooked is now the guy everyone’s talking about. So, where does Davis go from here? Revenge in a rematch? A bigger fight at lightweight? One thing’s for sure—he’s got a decision to make, and the boxing world is watching.

Shakur Stevenson fight

The obvious choice, and the one fans want Davis to go for, is a rematch with Roach Jr. However, in case he chooses not to, he needs to come back with something extremely strong, proving he is still the best and that the Roach fight was a bad day at work. The best way to do that would be to square off against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.

After his fight against Roach Jr., Davis was asked about his next step during the post-fight press conference. He simply claimed that while he wants a rematch with Roach Jr. that would not happen immediately. Instead, he left a cryptic message, stating, “You might see it in a minute,” he said. “You definitely might see it in a minute. See y’all soon. I’ll be back.”

This seems to have started speculations that Shakur Stevenson might be the next opponent for Davis. However, Stevenson has been calling for a fight against Davis for years, at this point to no avail. Stevenson’s previous statements on the matter suggest while there have been conversations between their teams, a fight has never come close to being made.

Rematch against Ryan Garcia (without a rehydration clause)

Another compelling option for Gervonta Davis would be a long-awaited rematch with Ryan Garcia. The two first clashed in April 2023, with Davis securing a seventh-round knockout victory. Since then, Garcia has been vocal about wanting a second fight, but Davis has shown little interest—until recently.

Davis now appears more open to the idea, but if a rematch happens, it would likely be without a rehydration clause and possibly at super lightweight. Still, this fight may not materialize anytime soon. Garcia is set to face Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero next, followed by a rematch with Devin Haney later this year.

That means a Davis-Garcia rematch would likely have to wait until 2026—an extended timeline Davis may not be willing to accept, especially after his record was blemished. There are more obstacles to the fight, though—Garcia will fight at welterweight. This means he will have to cut down to fight Davis.

Lamont Roach Rematch

This one is fairly straightforward: Immediately after the fight, both fighters—dissatisfied with the outcome—expressed interest in an immediate rematch. However, by the time Gervonta Davis reached the post-fight press conference, his stance had shifted. “It’s definitely the one I want next, but it’s not going to be next,” Davis told reporters.

Despite this, there is still hope for a rematch. WBA President Gilberto Mendoza has stated that he intends to push for one, citing a key moment in the ninth round when Davis took a knee—a move that went unpunished. Given that the fight ended in a majority draw, a point deduction, as per the rules, would have resulted in a victory for Lamont Roach.

“I think it’s not going to be no doubt about having a rematch on this,” Mendoza told The Ring. “… think this supersedes the public perception of boxing involved here with a huge star for the sport, and we need to send a strong message out there. … It was a very controversial night.” If the WBA moves forward with the rematch, both fighters will have 120 days to finalize the bout.

Is Gervonta Davis retiring?

Now, let’s examine what could be the most controversial end to Gervonta Davis’ career. Before his fight last year, Davis announced that he planned to retire from boxing after 2025, leaving him with only one more fight before hanging up the gloves. If he chooses not to face Lamont Roach in a rematch, he risks retiring with a blemish on his record—one that many believe should have been an official loss.

This makes Davis’ retirement seem highly unlikely. While he may not fight Roach immediately, a rematch is almost inevitable, whether it happens next or later down the line. Given the recent drama surrounding his career, it’s hard to imagine him walking away without addressing the controversy. And if he does, that’s exactly what people will remember him for.

That said, Gervonta Davis has several options ahead of him, but Lamont Roach Jr. may have put him in a position where he faces his toughest decision yet. And the truth is—that might be the best thing for the sport. Who do you think Davis will fight next?