Undisputed heavyweight champion Claressa Shields and WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis might not have seen eye to eye in the past. However, ‘T-Rex’ Shields can clearly see what the problem is behind Davis’ latest poor performance against Lamont Roach Jr. The only female fighter to have held undisputed status in three weight classes feels Davis is depressed and not in love with the sport anymore.
Setting aside the no-knockdown controversy involved in the fight, Davis suffered his first career draw against Roach Jr. earlier this month in New York. ‘The Reaper,’ who was being looked at as the major underdog, matched Davis blow for blow and pushed the Baltimore native to his limits. Amid this shocking turn of events, many claimed that it was an off day for the WBA champion.
Claressa Shields seems to have a different theory! While appearing in an interview with Fight Hub TV, Shields acknowledged that Davis is a great fighter in her eyes, “but he needs to get his mental together.” She even highlighted Davis’ interview with The Jay Hill Podcast, where Davis claimed he was evicted from his home.
Davis had claimed that his former promoter/mentor Floyd Mayweather forced him to fight Jose Pedraza in 2017 because someone told him Davis was messaging his daughter. Davis was six months out of the ring, so he was evicted from his apartment and had to sell his jewelry to get by. These statements from Davis made Shields feel “he’s not in love with the sport no more.”
April 22, 2023, Las Vegas, Nevada, LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, United States: LAS VEGAS, NEVADA -April 22: Gervonta Davis prepares to fight Ryan Garcia fight in the 12-round main-event Lightweight bout at Premier Boxing Champions – Davis vs Garcia at T-Mobile Arena on April 22, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas, Nevada United States – ZUMAp175 20230422_zsa_p175_217 Copyright: xAlejandroxSalazarx
“I can tell that he didn’t get his just due. I mean, it was crazy to hear that he said he got evicted out of a house or something like that,” Shields told the reporter. “When I hear him talk, he’s like, he wanna be a nicer guy for his daughters and… he’s go to therapy. I think he would be better. And [he’d be an even better fighter if he went and did therapy, like, asap cause I can just tell like he’s a little sad, he’s a little depressed.”
Last year in December, ‘Tank’ announced his retirement after 2025, suggesting he wants to undergo therapy and become a better person for his daughter. Regardless, Shields’ take on Davis’ fight against Lamont Roach Jr. doesn’t seem to have changed.
Claressa Shields’ verdict on Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr.
After the fight came to an end on March 1, Davis claimed that he had gotten his hair done days before and grease used in styling the hair had gotten into his eye, forcing him to take the knee in the middle of action. Many claimed the referee should have counted it as a knockdown, Shields seems to have shared the same opinion.
Olympics: USA Boxing press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz Aug 3, 2016 Rio de Janeiro, USA USA boxer Claressa Shields speaks during a press conference at the MPC Catira Room prior to the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Olympische Spiele, Olympia, OS Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports, 03.08.2016 12:23:47, 9419750, Claressa Shields, OLYMPICS PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xPeterxCaseyx 9419750
“How much they paying the ref ….. this is crazy,” Shields wrote about the incident. In a following tweet, she further elaborated on the no-knockdown incident. “I’ll say this and leave it there. If one judge had Tank 115-113 and the others had it even 114-114, I believe Roach won the fight because that Knee he took was 100% a knockdown. But it was a very close fight. That my opinion,” she wrote.
It appears that despite the prior disagreements with Gervonta Davis, Claressa Shields wants the best for the WBA lightweight champion. Whether Davis seeks therapy is yet to be seen; for now, Roach and Davis are rumored to be set for a fight in June. Do you agree with Shields?
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