Greetings, fight enthusiasts and even those who just enjoy critiquing from the sidelines. Another week’s mailbag is brimming with juicy boxing drama for all of you. Dive in! This time, we’re discussing the Tank Davis-Lamont Roach controversy and reflecting on a personal farewell to the sport of boxing.
The Tank-Roach Situation I
Hey Magno,
I find myself writing to you again, despite only recently contributing. Your "Notes" from this week were spot on. The judges actually did their jobs well in scoring the fight, so let’s leave claims of a robbery off the table. However, there’s no excusing the incompetence of Steve Willis. Knowing the rules is critical, and sadly, Roach, who brought his A-game, had to settle for a draw. He poured his effort into preparation and should have reaped the rewards. Instead, he’s looking at a smaller purse for the forthcoming rematch. Meanwhile, it’s likely Willis will continue officiating PBC events, seemingly favoring the house fighter(s).
As for Tank Davis, he needs to give serious thought to whether he wants to pursue his boxing career. Not to detract from Roach’s impressive performance, but Tank appeared disengaged. His renown can still fill arenas, but frequent lapses in focus won’t bode well for his future.
Take care,
- Reggie Cannon
Hey Reggie.
It’s true—Gervonta Davis has seemed increasingly indifferent to boxing recently. Last Saturday, Roach proved to be the opponent against whom disinterest simply wouldn’t cut it. Unlike many of Tank’s previous adversaries, Roach wasn’t fazed by the occasion. He stayed on point with a disciplined approach, requiring more from Davis than he was ready to offer. Tank has developed this bad habit of cruising through matches, often turning it up at the end to snatch a win. Roach, however, wasn’t an opponent he could outmaneuver so easily.
I’m predicting we’ll see a fully committed Tank in their rematch. His recent talks suggest a wounded pride with something to prove. Such despondence seems common when a well-compensated fighter isn’t being pushed. Davis needs to up the ante with tougher opponents or consider exiting the ring. In boxing, you can’t afford to be half in, half out if you’re aiming for long-term success.
The Tank-Roach Situation II
Hey Na’-il,
The referee on Saturday seemed star-struck, and we’ve witnessed this guy lose focus of his role in the past. So, it’s not so shocking that he appeared to favor the A-side. But the shady side of boxing notwithstanding, I suspect Roach might have still been shortchanged. Heading into the 12th round, two of the three judges had Roach trailing. In my view, he was ahead 6-5 by then.
Kudos to Roach for his tenacity and adherence to his game plan. The most remarkable aspect of his fight was his discipline. He never wavered or got lured into distractions.
Do you think Tank was exposed, or was this just an off night? Regardless, we must question his commitment to being boxing’s American poster boy. Does he appreciate where he’s at?
Tank hasn’t shied away from criticizing his former mentor and promoter, Floyd Mayweather. Unlike Tank on Saturday, Mayweather never displayed even a sliver of carelessness. Tank seems to be on a path eerily reminiscent of Adrien Broner.
– Na’il Rahman
Hey Na’-il.
As I previously stated, Tank’s disengagement isn’t new. It often stems from not being truly challenged. For athletes, being pushed to their limits is key to igniting passion. Mayweather was a unique case, driven and unyielding in his work ethic. Not everyone, even successful athletes, have that relentless drive.
Tank had an off night on Saturday because he couldn’t muster his usual fight against a disciplined adversary like Roach. While I doubt we’ll see a Broner-level decline, Tank does need to find his inner fire consistently, or a loss is on the horizon.
Saying Goodbye to Boxing
Hey Paul,
I hope this reaches you. I’m not entirely sure what I want to say here. Maybe vent my frustrations or realize it’s a futile exercise in excuse-making. Perhaps it’s that I’m just bad at goodbyes.
In theory, this should be two letters: one to you and one to boxing. But I’ve grown to associate the sport with your insights over the years. Hence, a combined message.
Increasingly, I’ve felt indifferent towards the sport I once revered. For two decades, I amassed archives, watched fights from the 70s, and revisited memorable bouts and interviews. I tried to stay open-minded by sampling various perspectives.
I’ve never claimed to be a boxing connoisseur, just someone in need of his "weekend boxing fix." I fell for the essence of the sport and tolerated the circus that came with it—a necessary evil. Even naively fostering "allegiances" with fighters and promoters. Yes, I was on Floyd’s side, not Pacquiao’s. Eventually, I grasped the absurdity and grew to admire boxing for its core values.
In my younger years, endless hours were spent reading articles, dreaming about matchups blocked by promotional politics. I debated P4P standings and fighter rankings—typical fanfare. Yes, guilty as charged. I was a "mark."
But now, I can’t enjoy boxing the way I once did. Jaded by commentators earnestly hyping mundane post-fight analyses—it’s like enduring an invasive exam. When Fury vs. Usyk 2 played out, I saw two fighters past their peak, unable to stir genuine excitement. Despite being hailed as "one of the greatest fights," a switch flipped for me. I thought, "No more, I can’t do this. I’m done."
I’m eternally grateful to boxing for the thrilling memories, the excitement of staying up until 3 AM in Italy, watching bouts in silence as my girlfriend (now wife) slept. However, as I age, boxing’s incessant politics have drained my enthusiasm. Coupled with parenting duties, I now favor less stressful pursuits.
Perhaps I was never a true boxing fan, just posing as one. You be the judge. "I’m fair but I’m firm" (the wise words of Mills Lane).
It’s unlikely I’ll return, having realized boxing is irreparably flawed. It fails to act like a regular, cohesive sport, and the narrative of two noble warriors fight after fight is wearing thin.
Since 2012, I’ve followed your insightful critiques, pleas for sanity, and more. Been a loyal reader through it all.
One of your analogies likened boxing to a dodgy fast-food joint that serves poor-quality fare, insisting customers be grateful. Or boxing as the abusive partner, with us fans as the suffering spouse—spot on.
The purpose of this message? I’m done. I quit.
To boxing (borrowing from Jim Cornette): THANK YOU, FUCK YOU, BYE.
- Edoardo from Italy
Hey Edoardo.
I’ve received many emails like yours over time, but few as heartfelt and worthy of sharing. Boxing is indeed shedding fans, particularly those as dedicated as you, for all the reasons you’ve mentioned. The growing prevalence of multiple paywalls and foreign interests pulling the sport away from its core fanbase is alienating. Among my friends, I’ve seen the shift from avid fandom to indifference in mere years—enthusiasts who’d once host Friday Night Fights gatherings now barely pay attention to the sport.
Falling out of love with boxing happens, and I understand it. Believe me, even as a writer in this field, I’m not fond of the sport’s current state.
There’s an old saying about sausage: if you knew how it was made, you’d never eat it. The same goes for boxing. Understanding all its manipulations makes it hard to maintain affection. What keeps me engaged are those pure moments in the ring when it’s just athlete against athlete. It helps to mentally separate the actual fighting from the wider boxing circus. Ignoring boxing media’s chatter can also spare you a lot of frustration.
Boxing is akin to a beautiful woman with a pungent aroma. If you decide to return, find ways to mitigate the cringe-worthy aspects and dive back in with resilience.
Thank you for your loyalty and for reading my musings over the years. Hopefully, you’ll rediscover your passion for the sport. To improve boxing, we need individuals who genuinely care and want to uphold its integrity.
Got questions (or venting notes) for Magno’s Mailbag? The best get featured in the weekly roundup here at FightHype. Send your thoughts to [email protected].
