The recent news of Vasily Lomachenko deciding to take the remainder of the year off and postpone the highly-anticipated unification match with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis until 2025 has left many boxing fans disappointed. The bout between IBF lightweight champion Lomachenko and WBA champion Tank Davis was eagerly awaited for November, but negotiations fell apart when Lomachenko’s camp decided to halt talks.
Missed Opportunity for Titles and Money
While Lomachenko’s decision may have disappointed fans, it also raises questions about his priorities. If collecting titles and maximizing earning potential are crucial for him, a fight against Tank Davis would have been the ideal route to take. However, with Lomachenko’s advancing age of 36, it remains to be seen if the opportunity for a unification match will present itself again in 2025.
With Lomachenko out of the picture for the time being, Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis will now look for an opponent to defend his WBA title against later this year. The potential candidates include Shakur Stevenson, William Zepeda, and Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz. Each opponent brings a different set of challenges and entertainment value to the table.
Shakur Stevenson as a Potential Opponent
WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson is a fan favorite to face Tank Davis due to his impressive resume as a former three-division world champion and 2016 Olympic silver medalist. However, some fans express concerns about Stevenson’s style potentially leading to a lackluster fight if he opts to move around the ring for twelve rounds.
On the other hand, William Zepeda boasts an unbeaten record along with power and pressure in his fighting style, making him a potentially exciting opponent for Tank Davis. However, Zepeda’s lack of recognition among casual boxing fans may require additional promotion to generate interest in the matchup.
Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz’s previous loss to Tank Davis in 2021 diminishes some of the intrigue in a potential rematch between the two fighters. While Cruz could offer a competitive challenge, the prior outcome of their encounter may affect the level of excitement surrounding a second bout.
The postponement of the Lomachenko vs. Davis fight has left a void in the boxing community, prompting fans to look towards alternative matchups involving both fighters. As the boxing landscape continues to evolve, the anticipation for future clashes between top contenders remains high, offering fans an array of potential showdowns to look forward to in the coming months.