NEW YORK – Gervonta Davis doesn’t see Lamont Roach the same way comparably unfamiliar handicappers have portrayed his upcoming opponent.

Baltimore’s Davis fought Roach, a native of nearby Upper Marlboro, Maryland, twice when they were amateurs in 2011. They also sparred against each other more times than either fighter could remember after a press conference Tuesday in Brooklyn to officially announce their March 1 pay-per-view main event at Barclays Center.

Both boxers were certain, though, that Davis is in for more difficulty when they square off for Davis’ WBA lightweight title than the 16-1 odds favoring the hard-hitting champion suggest. In fact, Davis (30-0, 28 KOs), The Ring’s No. 1-ranked lightweight contender, believes Roach (25-1-1, 10 KOs) will prove to be more troublesome during their 12-round, 135-pound championship clash than then-unbeaten southpaw Frank Martin (18-1, 12 KOs) was when Davis defeated him by eighth-round knockout June 15 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“I think he has way more better skills than Frank Martin,” Davis told a group of reporters and videographers after a press conference that began 4½ hours late due to Davis’ tardiness.

Roach, ranked No. 4 at junior lightweight by The Ring, reminded onlookers during the press conference that he is just the type of “dog” Davis sought to fight next once three-division champion Vasiliy Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) turned down a deal to finally face Davis on November 2 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Davis didn’t dub Roach a dog, per se, yet he realizes familiarity and the DMV-area traits within them will produce fierce competition, not the Davis cakewalk critics contend is nowhere near worth the $80 price tag that will likely be attached to this four-fight pay-per-view event.

“He’s familiar with my style,” Davis said. “It’s gonna be a good fight. It’s gonna be good until I do what I do.”

What Davis does, of course, is methodically bide his time before he knocks out opponents, usually very violently.

His 93-percent knockout ratio is the second highest among reigning recognized world champions, behind only fully unified light heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev (21-0, 20 KOs; 95 percent). Rugged Mexican contender Isaac Cruz (26-3-1, 18 KOs) is the only opponent who has extended Davis the 12-round distance since the thee-weight world champion became a championship-caliber fighter eight years ago.