Gervonta Davis fought to a draw last night against Lamont Roach, but a controversial unscored knockdown cost Roach a world title.
Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis fought Lamont Roach last night, and surprised fans when he was unable to continue his explosive knockout streak, and instead fought to a draw with Roach.
The result of the fight stirred controversy, with Davis’ former opponent, Ryan Garcia, scolding the Davis vs Roach decision and stating Roach was the rightful winner.
These claims are only exacerbated by an incident that occurred in the ninth round, when Davis took a knee and ran to his corner to have them wipe his eye, with the ref not counting this as a knockdown.
After the fight, Tank claimed the knee was due to grease getting into his eye from his hair, but this explanation was met with boos from the crowd.
WBA rule clarifies Gervonta Davis knockdown against Lamont Roach
Davis’ WBA lightweight title was on the line for the Roach fight, and so the WBA rules may provide some clarity on whether the knockdown of Davis ought to have been scored.
The rules state: “Downed Boxer. A boxer shall be considered “down” when, as a result of a legal blow, any part of his body, except his feet, makes contact with the floor of the ring, or when he hangs helplessly over the ropes.”
The incident occurred just after a hook from Roach, meaning the knee should have been scored a knockdown, making Roach the world champion.
Even if there were no clear punch ahead of Davis’ knee, many would still say it is a knockdown as though Davis claims it was due to grease in his eye, it could just as easily have been him opting for a breather or succumbing to an injury sustained earlier in the bout, which is cause for the knockdown to be scored.
If the knockdown were scored, Roach would have won with two scorecards of 114-113, 114-113 in his favor, and one 114-113 in favor of Davis.
He fought Davis twice in the amateurs, and Roach claims his first encounter with Davis was also tainted by erroneous scoring.
The moment Lamont Roach wobbled Gervonta Davis
Though there is much controversy around the knockdown, which would’ve been the first of Davis’ career, there were several other moments of note in the fight, with one being where Tank looks visibly wobbled after a right hook from Roach.
This marks one of very few moments in his career where Tank has looked truly vulnerable, and like many fans, Roach would love a rematch and another chance at Tank’s crown.
Roach became just the second man to go the twelve-round distance with Davis, with the only other man being Isaac Cruz, who Mike Tyson claims he sees much of himself in.
Davis has said he would also want the rematch but that it likely will not be his next fight.