Floyd Mayweather dragged into the discussion
Fans were buzzing about the possibility of a 2024 showdown between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Vasyl Lomachenko, two of the biggest stars in boxing’s lightweight division.
A December title unification fight seemed within reach, promising to be one of the year’s most anticipated events. However, negotiations fell apart when Lomachenko decided to take the remainder of the year off.
This collapse is part of a larger pattern where potential blockbuster fights, such as those with Shakur Stevenson, William Zepeda, George Kambosos Jr., and Devin Haney, never progressed beyond initial social media hype.
Speculation has been swirling around Davis, with some critics accusing him of avoiding top-tier opponents over the years. Others argue that the promoters might be to blame for these fights falling through. Adding to the controversy, Davis’ next fight was recently announced, and fans aren’t pleased.
On December 14, Davis will face WBA Super Featherweight champion Lamont Roach Jr., who is moving up to the lightweight division to challenge him at Houston’s Toyota Center. The announcement sparked backlash, with fans calling it another underwhelming match-up.
Leonard Ellerbe defended Davis
In the midst of the criticism, former Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe stepped in to defend Davis. The online debate started after a fan shared a video featuring Lomachenko and his promoter, Bob Arum, discussing Davis. The fan questioned how Floyd Mayweather, with similar management, secured high-profile fights while Davis struggled.
Ellerbe responded by explaining that the process of setting up major fights is much more complex than fans realize. He argued that social media often skews public perception, leading people to believe that Davis is avoiding serious competition.
According to Ellerbe, scheduling conflicts and other factors often prevent fights from happening. He even claimed that some fighters call out Davis publicly despite being unavailable or unable to fight.
