Adviser Leonard Ellerbee says he understands why lightweight champion Vassily Lomachenko chose not to fight Gronta ‘Tank’ Davis this year, but is open to the possibility of it happening later.
Ellerbee is not sure if Lomachenko will retire, but if he does he will respect the decision because he feels he has had a great career. In fact, Lomachenko held three division world titles and chose to fight at 135 when he could have been at the top for years at 130 or 126.
Lomachenko, 36, has the rest of 2024 on the line after capturing the IBF lightweight title with an 11th-round knockout of George Kambos Jr. on May 12.
Ellerbee says a fight between Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) and WBA lightweight champion Tank Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) is the biggest fight Loma’s promoters can make in the top ranks.
Tank Davis is tentatively scheduled to defend against Lemont Roach on March 1, 2025. It’s a fight that has been postponed several times since it was originally scheduled for December 14.
Why did Lomachenko choose to take time off?
“He just decided to take the rest of the year off. He’s had a lot going on, especially with what his country is going through,” Leonard Ellerbe said of Vassily Lomachenko to KO Artist Sports. That has decided not to fight Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis at this time.
It is believed that Lomachenko did not choose to fight Tank Davis next for the following reasons:
- Solving Problems: Lomachenko lost a controversial decision to Devin Heaney on May 20, 2023, and is unhappy with the fight’s decision.
- Not enough motivation: Not motivated to return to the ring for a tough fight against a tank.
- It’s not worth the risk: Fighting Tank Davis at this point in Loma’s career would involve a lot of risk, and it could end badly for him.
- Setting up to lose: Did Tank wait until Lomachenko was old before fighting him? This may be the reason for Loma’s reluctance to fight him.
“I have nothing but respect for him, Egis, and he knows this is the biggest fight he can humanly put on,” Ellerbee continued of Lomachenko. “This is the biggest fight for the top rank that they can make, and they know what it is.
“So, if that [Lomachenko] Chooses to ride off into the sunset, so be it. He’s had a great career, and I respect that. He knows what’s going on against Tank Davis. He sure knows what that looks like.”
Some fans believe Lomachenko thinks Tank Davis deliberately waited until he was in his mid-30s before fighting him. In other words, Tank aged him before agreeing to fight this fight to ensure victory. Lomachenko wanted to fight Tank six years ago in 2018, but was overlooked.
Tank Davis’ Sweepstakes: Who’s Next?
“He’s a fighter at heart, he’s a champion. He’s not going to sit around and wait for the tank. If it pops off, it pops off, and if it doesn’t, the show goes on. It was a fight I thought was going to happen, but the show has to go on. Who’s going to win the sweepstakes next?” Ellerbe said.
The ideal lucky sweepstakes winner for ‘The Big Tuna’ tank fight is No. 1 William Zepeda, the most entertaining fighter among the contenders and ready for a world title shot.
