Gervonta “Tank” Davis experienced the first mark on his professional boxing record, concluding his fight against Lamont Roach Jr. in a majority draw. Roach delivered a compelling performance, arguably deserving a victory.
The central controversy erupted in the ninth round when Davis intentionally knelt down, seemingly requesting a pause to address an issue with his eyes. His corner attempted to use a towel. The referee initiated a ten-count but then stopped it, realizing Davis was trying to clear something from his eyes.
Rules suggest that Davis taking a knee should have been counted as a knockdown. The referee’s decision not to score it as such ultimately became the deciding factor between a draw and a significant upset victory for Roach. Throughout the twelve-round match, Roach landed more punches and arguably more effective shots than Davis.
The judges’ scorecards read 115-113 in favor of Davis, while the other two judges scored it a 114-114 draw, leading to a majority draw result. Had Davis been penalized a point in the ninth round for a knockdown, Roach would have secured a split decision victory, but Davis remains undefeated.
Davis explained his ninth-round knee-down by saying, “I just got my hair styled two days ago, and they put grease in my hair. When you sweat, the grease runs into your face and burns your eyes.” He responded to crowd boos by stating it was a genuine issue related to his recent hairstyle.
Given the impact of this moment on the fight’s outcome, the crowd’s frustration was understandable. However, Davis immediately offered Roach a rematch, despite believing he should have won the fight.
Davis stated he believed he won the last three rounds, landing clean shots and being cautious to avoid mistakes against Roach’s persistent attacks. He acknowledged making the fight competitive and praised Roach as a skilled fighter, expressing interest in a rematch, possibly in New York.
Roach, while not blaming Davis for addressing his eye issue, pointed out that a voluntary knee-down with a referee’s count should be considered a knockdown. He felt that if the knockdown had been scored, he would have won. However, Roach emphasized he wasn’t relying on that single moment to claim victory, believing he had won the fight regardless.
Despite the draw, Roach can be proud of his performance, holding his own against Davis over 12 rounds as a significant underdog. However, moral victories are insufficient for Roach, who aimed for a clear win.
Roach expressed disappointment with the decision, believing he won and deserving a “real ‘W’,” but remained open to a rematch. He acknowledged Davis as a great fighter and considered his performance a personal win, though not satisfying enough.
Regardless of the controversy surrounding the non-knockdown call, Davis and Roach delivered an exciting fight, particularly in the later rounds.
Davis, known for starting slowly, initially fought cautiously, while Roach also adopted a careful approach to avoid Davis’s powerful counters. In the early rounds, Davis moved on the outside, and Roach received warnings from his corner about staying too stationary against a known knockout puncher.
The low activity persisted into the third round, making scoring difficult, though Davis primarily initiated power punches. Exchanges became heated, with Davis engaging in trash talk with Roach in the ring.
By drawing Roach into a more aggressive fight, Davis started landing more impactful punches, connecting with stiff shots to Roach’s chin. Davis’s fast left hand drew reactions from the New York crowd.
Just as Davis seemed to gain control, Roach stepped closer and unleashed a series of punches, including a strong right hand that landed cleanly. Roach’s success grabbed Davis’s attention as the lightweights traded heavy blows.
In the eighth round, Davis landed a powerful left that struck Roach’s head, but Roach responded with a right hook that momentarily stunned Davis. This surprising moment highlighted Roach’s capability despite being the underdog.
The ninth round brought the controversial no-knockdown incident, yet Roach’s confidence remained high. Davis then increased his aggression, launching blistering combinations, focusing on body shots, while Roach countered with uppercuts in close exchanges.
Roach remained resilient, consistently evading many of Davis’s biggest punches and responding with rapid shots, disrupting Davis’s rhythm.
As the final bell rang, there was a sense that Davis might have experienced his first defeat. However, Davis ultimately secured a majority draw due to the referee’s decision not to count the voluntary knee as a knockdown, a moment that significantly influenced the fight’s outcome.
At minimum, Roach deserves a rematch, and potentially could file a grievance with the boxing commission after a night where he arguably should have been declared the victor.
