03/01/2025
Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions
On Saturday, March 1, Gervonta “Tank” Davis steps into the ring to defend his WBA Lightweight Championship against Lamont Roach Jr. at the Barclays Center in New York City. A sold-out crowd is expected, and the event has already shattered the Barclays Center boxing gate record, previously held by Davis’ fight against Rolando Romero.
But this is more than just another title defense—it’s an affirmation and coronation of Davis’ position as the face of American boxing.
Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions
In an era where boxing’s biggest moments are increasingly moving offshore—specifically to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—Davis remains one of the last great American prizefighters committed to keeping the sport’s grandest spectacles within the United States.
Boxing has always thrived in iconic American cities—Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, and Texas have long been home to the sport’s biggest events. But over the last two years, a seismic shift has occurred. Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia’s backing have pulled some of boxing’s biggest names and fights overseas. The financial incentives are undeniable, and the sport’s power brokers—promoters, managers, and even fighters—have embraced the seemingly limitless resources Saudi Arabia offers.
Photo Credit: Turki Alalshikh
Even Canelo Álvarez, the sport’s biggest global star, has decided to pack his bags and fight in Saudi Arabia. Media outlets are increasingly treating Saudi events as the sport’s new normal, accepting the fact that major fights are happening outside the traditional American boxing markets.
But not Gervonta Davis. Whether intentionally or not, he’s become the face of resistance to this movement.
It’s not a title he has sought, nor is it one he necessarily wants. He isn’t campaigning against Saudi-backed fights, nor does he constantly speak out against fighters who take those deals. But through his actions—his insistence on headlining major events in American cities, his massive domestic fan base, and his cultural relevance—he stands as the last great American boxing superstar committed to keeping the sport’s biggest nights on U.S. soil.
Boxing in America NEEDS Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions
Few fighters move the needle like Gervonta Davis. His fights sell out major arenas, his pay-per-view numbers consistently outperform expectations, and his ability to bring out both diehard fans and mainstream celebrities sets him apart from nearly every other active fighter.
“I’m not just repping Baltimore, I’m repping people all over,” Davis says. “Everyone who’s going through something. If people doubt you, or you think your back is against the ropes, I do it for you.”
That connection extends beyond boxing. His presence in pop culture is unmatched among current American boxers. From hip-hop to social media to mainstream sports conversations, Davis is a name that carries weight.
And in the business of boxing, that matters.
Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions
Big fights in America fuel entire industries—hotels, airlines, casinos, local businesses, bartenders, event staff, and even up-and-coming fighters who get the chance to perform on these undercards. When these events shift overseas, those opportunities are lost.
Boxing in the U.S. isn’t dying because of a lack of fan interest—it’s being undercut by promoters and executives willing to send marquee fights elsewhere. The sport needs stars who will keep the biggest moments stateside, and right now, Gervonta Davis is leading that charge.
The Barclays Center is the perfect stage for this fight, and Davis knows it.
“The people’s energy here is amazing,” Davis says. “I won my first championship here and I have more followers from New York than almost anywhere. New Yorkers come with great energy.”
Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions
New York City has always been a fight town. From Madison Square Garden’s legendary nights to the rise of the Barclays Center as a premier boxing venue, the city has a rich tradition of hosting big fights.
Davis has already left his mark on New York’s boxing history, and March 1 will be another chapter in that legacy. The atmosphere inside the Barclays Center will be electric. The stakes are higher than just the WBA Lightweight Championship—it’s a statement about where boxing’s biggest fights should happen.
As long as Davis remains at the top, American boxing has an anchor—a fighter who ensures that the sport’s biggest moments remain in its traditional strongholds.
Photo Credit: Premier Boxing Champions
It’s not about rejecting globalization; it’s about preserving what makes boxing special. There’s an energy, an authenticity, and a communal experience to a major fight in New York or Las Vegas that simply can’t be replicated in a foreign land, no matter how much money is involved.
Davis, along with Premier Boxing Champions and TGB Promotions, is making a stand. Whether or not they realize it, they’re holding the line for American boxing, refusing to let every marquee event slip away to overseas promoters.
For that, they deserve the support of every fight fan who wants to keep the heart of boxing beating where it has always belonged—right here in the U.S.
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