Lamont Roach appears to be entering stardom at an ideal time, given the resurgent nature of young American boxers in the wider international competition.
The former super-featherweight world champion is a rare exception in a sport that often rewards or at least ignores bad behavior.
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Whether it’s Ryan Garcia’s abhorrent comments about George Floyd and the Ku Klux Klan, controversial influencer Andrew Tate joining the Misfits amid numerous pending sexual assault charges, or the ongoing drumbeat of drug scandals involving Janibek Alimhanuli (meldonium), Joseph Parker (cocaine) and Subriel Mathias (ostarin), the spotlight is often pointed at the worst parts of boxing.
Roach is a polar opposite, in large part because of the underappreciated work he does with at-risk youth in his hometown of Capitol Heights, Maryland. It’s not just something he does in the gym, but in the wider community as well. “I work with D.C. [Public] “The library is where we have events and boxing programs over the summer at different libraries and certain schools,” he told Uncrowned ahead of Saturday’s fight with WBC interim super lightweight champion Isaac Cruz.
“I did visits and outreach, talking to kids who might be ‘at risk’ [because of] They may be stuck in a situation, get them back on track and provide them with someone who can be successful in their own right, which they can do if they focus on doing the right things. “
Boxing is known for its lack of access, which puts it at odds with more mainstream sports.
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Whether it’s the training facility of the nearby NFL team the Baltimore Ravens or the MLB team the Baltimore Orioles, such established teams typically operate and practice behind closed doors.
But gyms like Roach’s NoXcuse Boxing Club (35 miles from the Ravens and Orioles) have an open-door policy, especially for children. They provide training and picnics in a place where they can burn off energy and socialize safely, giving young people a structured place to go.
“The most important thing about boxing is that it promotes discipline,” Roach said. “It uses discipline well and gives them a grasp on how to overcome difficult and challenging obstacles in sport, and then they apply that to life as well. “If I can be disciplined here, I can apply that to real life. This is what boxing really does for at-risk youth. “
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Roach’s own path to fame was forged in this discipline.
He is a technical fighter whose style favors intelligence over strength. He won the title at 130 pounds and moved up to lightweight, displaying toughness, consistency and adaptability rooted in discipline.
He has already faced Gervonta “The Tank” Davis once in most games this year. Many believed Roach deserved to win this fight, which would go down as the most meaningful win of his career, even surpassing his wins over Jamel Herring and Hector Luis Garcia.
Despite being linked with a rematch with Davis to finally resolve their rivalry, the match never took place. “Tank” instead participated in a show with Jake Paul, but Paul ultimately canceled the show after new domestic violence civil charges plagued Davis and the fight itself.
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Unfazed, Roach has set his sights on “Pitbull” Cruz, a rugged, no-nonsense Mexican pressure fighter, whom he meets in a lightweight bout on a PBC card in San Antonio, Texas, on Saturday, December 6.
“I’m excited, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “Things have been delayed for so long that I feel like it’s going to be a coming out party again.
“The atmosphere is going to be crazy, but that’s one thing I’m not worried about. It’s going to be a firefight and it’s going to be fun for me. I hope ‘Pitbull’ laces up his boots because I’m ready to rock, that’s for sure.”
Despite a bit of a lull in the U.S. boxing calendar at the end of the year, the sport has been booming in recent weeks, with four fights in Riyadh showcasing many of the best fighters in U.S. boxing, including Devin Haney, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and David Benavidez.
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The first six rounds of Haney’s fight against Brian Norman Jr. showcased Haney’s skill set, which puts him on par with some of the best boxing matches we’ve seen in recent years.
Lamont Roach shocked the boxing world with his performance against Gervonta Davis in March.
(Albello via Getty Images)
Roach thought Cruz got the best of him and his style, much like how Norman forced the best out of Haney, who showed off his laser-like jab as he defeated his opponent with a simple decision in the second round.
“Isaac is the perfect dance partner for me,” Roach said. “I’m going to tap into, bring that same energy [as Haney]and take tactical action. “
He said if Roach does to Cruz what he did in most of his fights with Davis, it would provide a remarkable springboard to greater things in 2026.
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“If we move right after this, it’s going to be at least a three-game year,” Roach said. “My goal is to become one of the best boxers and I’m taking a step in the right direction. Beating ‘Pitbull’ in another weight class might put me closer to the top ten.”
Few would argue with him, especially since that has changed in recent years as young Americans have begun to establish themselves as the best in the sport.
For example, according to Uncrown’s own top 10-pound rankings, Terence Crawford continues to hold the top spot, but “Bam” Rodriguez is close behind in fifth, Benavidez is tied for sixth, Shakur Stevenson is tied for eighth, and newcomer Haney is in 10th.
If Cruz has him close to that group, beating one of them will push him higher. “Shakur and I are going to meet one day, and when we do, it’s going to be a big fight for the fans,” Roach said, adding that he likes the changes as America’s younger generation starts to take the lead again.
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“We’re entering a new era and hopefully we can come together and start fighting each other… That applies to all weight classes. The lighter weight classes have done that – look what ‘Bam’ is doing, collecting belt after belt. That’s a bad guy, he’s definitely in my top five.
“David Benavidez is younger than me and doing what he’s doing. He’s dominating at 168 [pounds]moved up, and he beat them at light heavyweight. Now he’ll be facing off against Gilberto ‘Zudo’ Ramirez next year. “
For Roach, it all means one thing: “American boxing is getting back on the map.”
Given the “beautiful scenery at 135,” it probably won’t be long before Roach marks his spot on this map. Because while boxing rarely rewards good guys, the sport may ultimately have no choice if Roach beats Cruz and forces his way to Stevenson.