Gervonta Davis’ WBA lightweight title fight against Lamont Roach Jr. ended in controversy after Davis voluntarily took a knee in the ninth round. The fight, held at Barclays Center in New York, concluded as a majority draw, with one judge scoring it 115-113 in favor of Davis and the other two at 114-114.
Many spectators and analysts believed Roach had done enough to secure victory, especially considering Davis’ unexpected decision to kneel. Davis later explained that hair product had run into his eyes, impairing his vision and forcing him to take the knee so his trainer could wipe his face.
Roach and Experts Demand Knockdown Count, While Davis Defends His Performance
Lamont Roach, making his lightweight debut, argued that Davis should have been given an official knockdown count since he voluntarily went down without being hit. He stated that if the knockdown had been counted, he would have won the fight by the majority’s decision.
Boxing experts and fans echoed Roach’s frustration, with Terence Crawford, a multi-division champion, calling the decision unfair. He cited a past example where Floyd Mayweather took a knee due to injury, and it was counted as a knockdown. Renowned boxing journalist Dan Rafael also criticized the ruling, labeling it a “disgrace.”
Gervonta Davis’ Controversial Knee Sparks Debate as Roach Calls for RematchDespite the backlash, Davis stood by his performance, arguing that he landed the most punches and deserved to win. He maintained that Roach did not hit him before he took the knee and insisted that his decision was purely based on discomfort from the hair product.
He acknowledged that he should not have taken the knee, but emphasized that he wanted to avoid being hit while his vision was impaired. The result allowed Davis to retain his title, but it marked the first draw in his otherwise flawless career, which previously consisted of 30 wins, 28 of them by knockout.
Davis’ Confusion Over Rounds and Possibility of a Highly Anticipated Rematch
Davis admitted to further complications during the fight, stating that he had lost track of the rounds and was unaware that it was the 12th and final round when the match ended. He suggested that having ring girls display the round numbers would have helped him stay focused.
His coach, Barry Hunter, supported this claim, explaining that Davis mistakenly thought it was the eighth round instead of the 12th. Hunter suggested that this momentary lapse in focus was an issue they would address moving forward.
Following the controversial outcome, both fighters expressed interest in a rematch. Roach remained confident in his performance, asserting that he had done enough to win against a “spectacular fighter.” He was eager to prove himself again, stating that he had demonstrated his skills and looked forward to another opportunity. Davis did not dismiss the idea of a rematch, and with the controversy surrounding their first bout, a second fight could be highly anticipated by fans and analysts alike.