Lamont Roach Jr.

Lamont Roach Jr. (born August 18, 1995) is an American professional boxer who challenged for the WBO super featherweight title in 2019.

Lamont Roach Jr.
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1995-08-18) August 18, 1995
Washington, D.C., United States
Boxing record
Total fights22
Wins20
Wins by KO8
Losses1
Draws1

Early life

Born in Washington, D.C., Roach was raised in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. When he was nine years old, he accompanied his father and his cousin to No “X” Cuse Boxing Club in Capitol Heights, where he got to hit a punching bag for the first time and learn some of the basics.[1] He enjoyed it so much that he decided to continue training under his father and his cousin Bernard, and by middle school was in the gym five times a week. Although he had also been playing football throughout his youth, he dropped it to focus on boxing once he reached high school.[1]

As an amateur, his record was 125–15,[2] with two of those losses coming at the hands of Gervonta Davis.[3] He won two Junior National Golden Gloves Championships, a national PAL Championship and five Ringside World Championships. In 2013, he was the USA Boxing Youth National Champion and the National Golden Gloves champion, both at 132 lbs. He also captured a bronze medal at the Klitschko Brothers Tournament in Ukraine and was honored with the USA Boxing Outstanding Boxer award for his performances that year.[4]

Professional career

In March 2014, he signed with Golden Boy Promotions to begin his professional career with his father Lamont Sr. serving as his manager.[1] Roach made his pro debut on April 19, 2014, defeating Victor Galindo by unanimous decision (UD) at the D.C. Armory. Just 18 years old at the time, he was still a freshman at the University of Maryland studying mechanical engineering, following in his father's footsteps.[1] Two months later, he defeated Miguel Antonio Rodríguez in Boston when his opponent failed to answer the bell for the second round.[5] In his first televised match he faced Herbert Quartey, cousin of former world champion Ike Quartey, in Philadelphia on January 20, 2015. Roach dominated the more experienced fighter, scoring three knockdowns before the fight was stopped in the fourth round in his favor, extending his winning streak to six.[6]

On January 28, 2017, he stopped Alejandro Valdez inside of two minutes in Indio, California to capture the vacant WBC Youth Silver super featherweight title and move to 13–0.[7] He dedicated the win to his recently-deceased cousin Jermaine, who had accompanied him to his first boxing session more than a decade earlier.[2] He successfully defended the belt against Jesús Valdez five months later, also in Indio.[8] Just days before his next fight, a non-title bout versus Dominican veteran Luis Hinojosa in October, his cousin and life-long trainer Bernard "Boogaloo" Roach passed away of a heart attack.[9] With his father taking over as his head coach, he went on to beat Hinojosa with a first-round TKO for his third stoppage victory in four fights.[10] A month later Roach headlined his first professional card when he faced Rey Perez at the MGM National Harbor in Maryland, just 20 minutes from his hometown of Upper Marlboro.[11][12] He defeated the Filipino journeyman by UD in the 10-round main event of the ESPN Deportes/ESPN2 telecast.[13]

By the beginning of 2018 Roach had a record of 16–0. He received a shot at the vacant WBO International super featherweight title, traveling to Puerto Rico to face former world title challenger Orlando Cruz.[14][15] In what was his first fight outside of the continental United States, he fought a 36-year-old Cruz to a controversial split draw in the main event of a Golden Boy Boxing on ESPN card.[16][17] It was a close fight until the ninth round, when Roach hit the Puerto Rican with a left hook to the head that made him stagger and fall, seemingly a knockdown.[16] However, it was ruled a slip by Puerto Rican referee Luis Pabon, a crucial point that would have given him the victory.[18] Three months later he defeated Deivis Julio Bassa for the still-vacant WBO International belt in Cancún, after the Colombian contender stayed in his corner at the conclusion of the sixth round.[19] The victory catipulted him to #5 in the WBO rankings.[20] On December 15, he defeated Alberto Mercado in his first title defense by unanimous decision on the undercard of the Canelo Álvarez–Rocky Fielding world title bout at Madison Square Garden.[3][21] This further moved him up the WBO rankings to #2 in January 2019.[22]

Roach faced veteran Puerto Rican fighter Jonathan Oquendo in a WBO junior lightweight final eliminator during the Álvarez–Daniel Jacobs undercard at T-Mobile Arena in May 2019.[23] He retained his belt while also taking Oquendo's WBO–NABO belt with a unanimous decision victory.[24] On November 9, he received his world title shot against newly-crowned champion Jamel Herring, but lost the 12-round bout in Fresno, California by unanimous decision.[25] He was scheduled to face Neil John Tabanao at the Avalon Hollywood on March 19, but the fight was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
22 fights 20 wins 1 loss
By knockout 8 0
By decision 12 1
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
21 Loss 19–1–1 Jamel Herring UD 12 Nov 9, 2019 Chukchansi Park, Fresno, California, U.S. For WBO super featherweight title
20 Win 19–0–1 Jonathan Oquendo UD 10 May 4, 2019 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBO International super featherweight title
Won WBO-NABO super featherweight title
19 Win 18–0–1 Alberto Mercado UD 10 Dec 15, 2018 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained WBO International super featherweight title
18 Win 17–0–1 Deivis Julio Bassa RTD 6 (10), 3:00 Jul 20, 2018 Grand Oasis Arena, Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico Won vacant WBO International super featherweight title
17 Draw 16–0–1 Orlando Cruz SD 10 Apr 19, 2018 Coliseo José Miguel Agrelot, San Juan, Puerto Rico For vacant WBO International super featherweight title
16 Win 16–0 Rey Perez UD 10 Nov 30, 2017 MGM National Harbor, Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Luis Hinojosa TKO 1 (10), 2:04 Oct 21, 2017 Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Jesús Valdez Barrayan UD 10 Jun 30, 2017 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. Retained WBC Youth Silver super featherweight title
13 Win 13–0 Alejandro Valdez KO 1 (8), 1:41 Jan 28, 2017 Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. Won vacant WBC Youth Silver super featherweight title
12 Win 12–0 Mario Antonio Macías KO 3 (8), 0:07 Sep 2, 2016 Belasco Theatre, New York City, New York, U.S.
11 Win 11–0 José Arturo Esquivel UD 8 May 7, 2016 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Jesús Lule UD 8 Mar 5, 2016 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.
9 Win 9–0 José Bustos UD 6 Oct 17, 2015 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Christian Santibanez UD 6 Jun 30, 2015 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
7 Win 7–0 José Miguel Castro UD 6 Apr 18, 2015 Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Herbert Quartey TKO 4 (6), 2:34 Jan 20, 2015 2300 Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Alexander Charneco UD 4 Dec 6, 2014 Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Rafael Francis TKO 1 (4), 2:11 Oct 30, 2014 Memorial Hall, Plymouth, Massachusetts, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Rocco Espinoza MD 4 Sep 6, 2014 U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Miguel Antonio Rodríguez RTD 1 (4), 3:00 Jun 5, 2014 House of Blues, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Victor Galindo UD 4 Apr 19, 2014 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.

References
  1. "Getting in the ring: Lamont Roach Jr. goes pro while still student". The Diamondback. August 12, 2016. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  2. Nieves, Peter (January 25, 2017). "Lamont Roach Jr. Has Sights Set on WBC Title This Saturday". Round by Round Boxing. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  3. Satterfield, Lem (December 17, 2018). "Lamont Roach Ready For Title Shot After Beating Mercado". Boxing Scene. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "Fighter Profile". Golden Boy Promotions. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  5. Nagesh, Gautham (June 6, 2014). "Danny Kelly, Lamont Roach Jr Win In Boston on FS1". Stiff Jab. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  6. Glass, Brandon (June 21, 2015). "Lamont Roach Jr. Is Ready to Take the Next Step". Round by Round Boxing. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  7. Burgos, Alex (January 28, 2017). "Lamont Roach Jr. Blasts Alex Valdez in 1 to Earn WBC Youth Title". Round by Round Boxing. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  8. Williams, Gary (November 28, 2017). "Roach, Jr. Ready To Defend WBC Youth Silver". fightnews.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  9. Contreras, Robert Aaron (April 17, 2018). "Lamont Roach Jr.'s Undefeated Career Defined by Tragedy and Loss". Round by Round Boxing. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  10. Burgos, Alex (November 21, 2017). "Lamont Roach Jr. Ready to Shine in Homecoming Main Event". Round by Round Boxing. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  11. Paras, Matthew (November 29, 2017). "'A good soldier:' Boxer Lamont Roach Jr. fights for fallen trainer". The Washington Times. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  12. Coppinger, Mike (November 30, 2017). "LAMONT ROACH JR. FIGHTS IN MEMORY OF LONGTIME TRAINER, COUSIN WHO DIED LAST MONTH". RingTV. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  13. Harris, Ron (December 6, 2017). "Young Lamont Roach, Jr. shows poise in win at MGM". Prince George's Sentinel. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  14. Collins, Nigel (April 19, 2018). "Lamont Roach Jr. on the road again, faces Orlando Cruz in Puerto Rico". ESPN. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  15. "Lamont Roach, Orlando Cruz - Ready For Battle in PR". Boxing Scene. April 18, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  16. Collins, Nigel (April 19, 2018). "Lamont Roach, Orlando Cruz fight to controversial draw". ESPN. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  17. George, Anthony (May 16, 2018). "Lamont Roach Jr.: The victim of the dark side of boxing". Max Boxing. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  18. Burgos, Alex (April 20, 2018). "Lamont Roach Jr. vs. Orlando Cruz Ends in a Draw". Round by Round Boxing. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  19. Burgos, Alex (July 20, 2018). "Lamont Roach Jr. Stops Deivi Julio Bassa to Earn WBO Title". Round by Round Boxing. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  20. "WBO Rankings / August 2018". thepugilist.info. August 24, 2018. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  21. Lik, Vladimir (December 15, 2018). "Lamont Roach Jr., Yves Ulysse Jr., Bilal Akkawy score victories on Canelo-Rocky undercard". RingTV. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  22. "Lamont Roach Jr. Moves to No. 2 in WBO Super Featherweight Rankings". Round by Round Boxing. January 28, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  23. Manzano, Gilbert (May 4, 2019). "Lamont Roach Tested in Decision Over Jonathan Oquendo". Boxing Scene. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  24. Christ, Scott (May 4, 2019). "Canelo vs Jacobs results: Lamont Roach Jr outpoints Jonathan Oquendo over 10 rounds". Bad Left Hook. SB Nation. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  25. Rafael, Dan (November 9, 2019). "Jamel Herring outpoints Lamont Roach Jr. to retain title". ESPN. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  26. Rafael, Dan (April 3, 2020). "Keeping track of cancellations, postponements in boxing due to the coronavirus pandemic". ESPN. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
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