Lamont Roach doesn’t believe that history necessarily has to repeat itself. 

Roach is all about learning from past mistakes and seizing upon opportunities presented to him.

The once-beaten Roach believes he will be victorious at the expense of WBA world junior lightweight titleholder Hector Garcia Saturday night at the Michelob ULTRA Events Center inside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

The 12-round bout will open the Showtime Championship Boxing Pay-Per-View telecast (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT) that will be headlined by the super middleweight clash between unbeaten contenders David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade.

Roach (23-1-1, 9 knockouts), who resides in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, last fought on July 16, defeating Angel Rodriguez by unanimous decision. The win over Rodriguez was a WBA world title elimination bout.

The 28-year-old will face Garcia, who is ranked No. 2 by The Ring at 130 pounds, despite a January 7 loss to Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. The loss to Davis took place at 135 pounds and Garcia’s WBA world title belt was not on the line.

The loss to Davis allowed Roach to pick up a few attributes and weaknesses, but Roach is expecting the best version of Garcia.

“My goal is to win and to do so impressively,” Roach told The Ring Tuesday evening. “We have a strategy and a game plan. We put together a solid package and we are going to show what we did in training camp. I plan on displaying my own skills and exploit what he does. After factoring in everything, at the end of the day, I have to go in there and take that title and do so convincingly.”

Roach has won his last four bouts since a unanimous decision loss, his only thus far of his career, to then-WBO world junior lightweight titleholder Jamel Herring in November 2019. Roach has victories over Jonathan Oquendo, once-beaten Alberto Mercado and, most recently, Rene Alvarado. 

The defeat to Herring was a learning experience for Roach, who took it upon himself to take a more-assertive and aggressive approach to each fight.

“The main thing I learned from the fight against Jamel was that no one is going to give you anything,” said Roach, who is a promotional free agent after spending his entire career with Golden Boy Promotions. “Jamel was the champ and the best champion at that time at 130 pounds.

“I started that fight too late. I think I should have started being more aggressive a round or two earlier. If I started earlier, maybe I would have won by knockout. I was the better fighter during the second half of the fight. If I started earlier, then the fight would have had a different outcome.”

A win over Garcia would place Roach amongst the top 10 amongst junior lightweights by The Ring. Even without a world title belt around his waist, Roach is convinced he is one of the best fighters today at 130 pounds.

“Some think I’m one of the best, but I think I am the best fighter in the division,” said Roach. “I’m going to give credit where credit is due. Every champion at 130 pounds has displayed why they are a champion and that they are willing to defend their title like a champion. Except Hector.

“After the fight, they have to answer to me because I want to face the other champions in the division. They’re all bound to get hit. (WBC world titleholder) O’Shaquie Foster is a slippery fighter. But, like all the champions, I know I can knock them all out.”

Roach takes pride in being from the ‘DMV,’ which consists of the region that makes up the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. The area is a hotbed of talent, at the amateur and pro level and has produced solid fighters, including ‘Sugar’ Ray Leonard, Lamont and Anthony Peterson, and ‘Tank’ Davis. 

Currently, there are other stellar amateurs who are making a name for themselves. Benjamin Johnson, who is the No. 1 seed in next week’s Olympic Trials, Jamal Harvey and Jordan Roach are from that region. 

Roach is proud to represent the area, but he is also glad to see the next generation of top amateurs excel and that those three could fight at next year’s Olympic Games in Paris. 

“It’s a great shining light in that area. It’s perfect timing, along with my fight this Saturday.”

As far as his fight against Garcia, Roach strongly believes he can accomplish his goal of becoming a world champion.

“I have the perfect dance partner in Garcia. My opportunity is coming to light and I’m going to make the most of it.”

Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached at [email protected]

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