Lamont Roach Jnr says he brings much more to the organization than Frank Martin, the undefeated lightweight who was knocked out on shortstop by Gervonta “Tank” Davis in June.

“With all due respect, I’m not Frank Martin. Frank Martin started boxing when he was, what, 15? Roach said in an interview with Cigar Talk’s Naji Grampus. (Martin was actually 17 years senior, according to the Premier Boxing Champions website.)

“Frank Martin doesn’t have the experience he needed – as everyone has seen, it’s not like I’m talking nonsense or anything like that – he didn’t have the experience to work with someone as qualified or as experienced as [Tank]. I have the same skill level as Tank. I have the same experience as Tank. I have reflexes. I have this ability. I’m sure I have an IQ. The question is, what makes people think I’m going to end up like these guys who had no experience and no skills?”

Davis’s record is 30-0 (28 KOs). The only fighters to last the distance with him were German Meraz in 2014, when Davis fought his ninth professional fight, and Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, whom Davis defeated by decision in 2021. After the fight with Cruz, it was revealed that Davis had suffered a hand injury.

Roach acknowledges Davis’ authority, but he also believes in his own chin.

“I think I got hit a few times. Nobody ever dropped me,” Roach said. “No one has ever seen me hurt in any fight.”

Counter right hook who dropped Roach his loss to Jamel Herring in 2019 was ruled a slip – “The referee noticed my foot came up and I tripped. That’s why he didn’t call it a knockdown,” Roach said.

However, Roach (25-1-1, 10 KO), while emphasizing his advantages, also admits that Davis has few weaknesses.

“The ones I know, I’ll try to utilize them,” Roach said. “It won’t be effortless. We all know that. He’s a hell of a fighter.”

The upcoming pay-per-view fight between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jnr on December 14 in Houston will be their first professional fight, but it will be their third meeting overall.

“We previously competed twice in two close fights in the amateur category.” Roach said in an interview with Cigar Talk’s Naji Grampus. “Honestly, if you ask him, he’ll probably tell you that I’m one of his better opponents right now.”

These amateur fights took place in 2011, when both fighters were teenagers. Davis, born in November 1994, was 16 years venerable at the time, while Roach, born in August 1995, was approaching his 16th birthday. They are both now 29 years venerable. Davis holds the WBA lightweight title and Roach holds the WBA junior lightweight title.

Roach said they practiced sparring as kids.

Roach says footage that is on YouTube (upload date: May 2011) comes from the Junior Olympics regional championship. Roach is from the Washington, D.C. area and Davis is from Baltimore.

“They took a point from him and then they took a point from me that I didn’t think they should have,” Roach said. “We sent it to USA Boxing and they agreed to my general offer to go to nationals. It was like, “Okay, maybe this point should have been taken into consideration.” They put us on opposite sides of the bracket and we met in the national championship.

“He won a tough fight again. I don’t think he should have won. This wasn’t home cooking. It was like a point system. After the first round the score was 2-1. After the second round it was 5:3. I think he beat me by four points.

According to a report at the time on the DC Amateur Boxing bloga rematch took place in early August 2011 in the 125-pound weight class, with Davis winning by a score of 14-6.

“We made it to the championship for a reason,” Roach said. “One and two in the nation. It’s always been like this. We were always two of the best players around. He won the national Golden Gloves in 2012. I won the national Golden Gloves in 2013, when I was venerable enough to go. I was 17 years venerable. He turned professional before me. I think he stopped fighting in the amateur category before me. When he stopped, I continued doing my thing. I was number 1 in the country. We both have a history of being the best in our area. And now we have a history of being the best in the world. “

Given their long history and familiarity, Roach has seen how much Davis has improved since his days as an amateur.

“It’s definitely different. It’s definitely better. It is world class better. Like me,” Roach said. “He is a world-class player. There’s a reason he’s where he is. I’m his fan. This motherfucker can fight. I know what I’m capable of. I am one of them. So why not show it to the world? Why not show it to him? This is what we should do.”

One massive difference? A power that carried Davis to 30-0 with 28 knockouts.

“When we were kids, he wasn’t really like a devastating knockout puncher or anything like that,” Roach said. “People would think of me as more of a powerful amateur boxer than I do now, except for the people who are in the ring with me.”

Roach has a record of 25-1-1 (10 KOs). In June, he stopped Feargal McCrory in the eighth round.