Imminent Retirement? Gervonta Davis and the Uncertain Future of Boxing
Gervonta “Tank” Davis, one of the most prominent boxers of the moment, has cast doubt on his future in the ring. At 30 years old, Davis has hinted at the possibility of retiring, fueling the debate about his continuity in the sport.
“It’s close,” Davis stated in an interview.
Gervonta “Tank” Davis
The confrontation with Jake Paul on November 14th is a crucial point. What will happen after this fight? Will Davis really retire?
Meanwhile, Lamont Roach Jr., after his controversial draw with Davis, is looking for a fight with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz. How close is he to making this fight happen?
Additionally, Teofimo López Jr. and Shakur Stevenson have intensified their calls for a showdown. Will this anticipated fight materialize?
Crawford, looking for a new challenge?
Terence Crawford, recently crowned undisputed super welterweight champion, has an important decision to make. Will he stay at 168 pounds, return to 154, or explore the 160-pound division to seek a title in a sixth category?
On November 22nd, in a stellar card with four title fights, Brian Norman Jr. will defend his WBO welterweight title against Devin Haney. Will this be a KO ending showdown?
We analyze these questions, separating reality from speculation.
Reality or speculation? Analysis of the next fights
Will Gervonta Davis fight again after the match with Jake Paul?No. Davis hasn’t shown much interest in boxing lately and has talked about a possible early retirement. He has made it clear that he fights for financial gain, and the pursuit of a legacy is not his main motivation.
Davis stated in an interview that he would retire from boxing after next year. Instead of seeking an immediate rematch with Roach, he opted for an exhibition with Paul. The fight with Paul has been a goal for Davis, and the large sum of money he will receive could lead him to a comfortable retirement. Unfortunately, this could mean that fights against top-level boxers like Stevenson, Haney, and Lopez will not happen soon. Perhaps a fight in 2026 with Manny Pacquiao could be enough for Davis to return to the ring.Will Teofimo López Jr. face Shakur Stevenson?Real. Although a fight between López and Haney didn’t materialize, the idea that López avoids his opponents is exaggerated. In 2020, López challenged and defeated Vasiliy Lomachenko, and repeated the feat in 2023 by facing Josh Taylor.
Stevenson has expressed his interest in facing López. Both boxers seem to have agreed to the fight during the press conference after the Canelo-Crawford fight. López confirmed that he plans to fight Stevenson in early 2026.Will Terence Crawford’s next fight be at 160 pounds?Real, if he fights again. After defeating Canelo last month, it’s hard to imagine what Crawford could do to surpass himself. Although there has been speculation about a fight against David Benavidez or Dmitry Bivol, Crawford has ruled out the idea of moving up in weight again. Crawford moved up to super middleweight because he saw Canelo as a “small” fighter at 168 pounds. Now that he has achieved what many believed impossible, his time in super middleweight seems to have concluded. Returning to 154 pounds could be complicated, but there is a category he hasn’t explored: middleweight. If he’s looking for a world title in a sixth division, he could fight at middleweight.
Crawford faced Israil Madrimov, a champion but not a well-known name. If there’s a world title at stake and the opportunity to expand his legacy, Crawford would be interested. Given the frequency of his fights, a more attractive option might arise or one of the middleweight champions might become undisputed. However, Crawford turned 38 and his career won’t extend much further. If he continues, it will be only to make more history.Will Lamont Roach Jr. face Isaac Cruz?Real. Following the cancellation of the rematch with Gervonta Davis, Roach’s team seeks to secure a fight to capitalize on the momentum gained in the draw against Davis in March. A fight with Gabriel Flores was speculated, but it did not materialize. Roach is likely to face Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, Davis’s former rival. Details are still pending, such as the date, location, and whether the fight will be attractive enough to be a pay-per-view event. The fight is expected to take place before the end of the year, although dates and venues are limited, pointing to December. This would be the perfect match for Roach, as facing a former Davis rival would give him recognition and could offer an exciting fight.Will Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney end by KO?No. Norman has considerable knockout power, with 22 of his 28 victories by KO. However, Haney is superior to any opponent Norman has faced. Although Haney’s performance against Ryan Garcia was difficult to watch, he got up from the canvas three times against Garcia, who was suspended for PED use. Haney is a very good and technically sound boxer, with a sharp jab, good defense, and excellent footwork. Norman will need to be fundamentally sound to win, and seeking a knockout could lead to Haney outboxing him. It is likely to be a strategic matchup, where both boxers will be cautious. One may go down, but a scenario where judges are not needed to determine the outcome is not foreseen.
