By: Sean Crose
With Terence Crawford apparently well on his way to a superfight with the one and only Canelo Alvarez, lightweight phenom Gervonta “Tank” Davis has some things to say about it. “Crawford needs the money,” he stated bluntly to reporters (courtesy of ES News) on the eve of his Saturday fight against Lamont Roach at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center. While it’s true that neither Crawford nor Davis have been the best of pals lately, Davis went beyond accusations of Crawford needing money.
“He got clipped by Gamboa,” Davis continued. “How the fuck is he looking this strong all these years?” The question, as serious fight fans would know, was a pointed one, a statement which suggested Crawford has employed performance enhancing drugs. “He didn’t get clipped or nothin’,” Davis added. “It’s that SNAC shit.” SNAC, which is run by nutritionist Victor Conte, is used by numerous fighters of note due to its tools for conditioning. Conte, it must be stated, once went to jail for attempting to distribute banned substances, as well as money laundering.
The man has since argued that he has changed his ways, dedicating himself to making fighters in prime shape the clean way. Davis, apparently, doesn’t buy the argument. Fighters like Crawford, Claressa Shields and Shaw Porter have all worked with Conte, however. It’s also worth bringing up the fact that none of these fighters has tested dirty. With that being said, Davis may well be playing – or trying to play – mental games here. Such tactics are a sure way to get attention. They can also drum up interest in upcoming events, like Davis’ pay per view main event Saturday night in Brooklyn.
Although Roach is nothing if not an accomplished professional, he’s not expected to beat the dazzling Davis in the ring. Davis, after all, fights like a dynamo, with thunderous punches, eyebrow raising speed and a fluidity most boxers would love to have for themselves. Considering the fight with Roach will cost around eighty dollars for fans to watch, Davis might well be inclined to make attention grabbing statements beforehand.
Although they aren’t big fans of each other – at least not on the surface of things – the plain fact is that Davis and Crawford are extremely high quality fighters. Now fighting at super middleweight, Crawford will likely always be too big to take on the lightweight Davis. Perhaps that’s why the fight is being waged in the media’s bright lights in lieu of the prize ring.