Gervonta "Tank" Davis has admitted he may need a genuine break from the ring, longer than the usual few months between fights, because "boxing can’t be my therapy." Even though he’s headlining this Saturday at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center against Lamont Roach, Davis says he’s feeling the mental toll of constant pressure from fans, the media, and personal obligations.
He’s 30, a three-division champ, and the father of three children. While "Tank" still wants fights with big names like Shakur Stevenson and Vasiliy Lomachenko, he also wants time away to recharge. He opened up to reporters, admitting he’s been giving so much of himself to boxing that he hasn’t taken the space to learn and grow as a person. Just as Antonio Brown once warned about an athlete "losing his mind" by giving too much, Davis doesn’t want to follow that path.
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His trainer Barry Hunter and co-trainer Calvin Ford see the signs, too. They've urged Davis to consider a sabbatical, telling him to switch off the phone, ignore everyone else’s issues, and just be with his kids for a while. They’re certain a break will rejuvenate him, especially because there’s a fortune waiting if he stays in the sport. Fights with Stevenson, a Ryan Garcia rematch, or even Naoya Inoue moving up could all become huge box-office hits someday.
For now, though, all eyes are on how Davis performs against Roach. Will the emotional weight hamper him on fight night, or will he once again show why he’s one of boxing’s most feared punchers?
Image Credit: PBC