Gervonta Davis Retains WBA Title After Controversial Draw
Gervonta “Tank” Davis remains undefeated, but not without controversy. On Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, he defended his WBA lightweight title against Lamont Roach Jr., with the fight ending in a majority draw. One judge had it 115-113 for Davis, while the other two scored it 114-114, keeping Davis’ record intact at 31-0 with 28 knockouts. However, many—including Roach—felt the decision could have easily gone the other way.
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The biggest moment of the fight came in the ninth round when Davis, appearing to struggle with his vision, voluntarily took a knee near his corner. Normally, any fighter touching the canvas with anything other than their feet is considered a knockdown, meaning Davis should have lost a point. But referee Steve Willis didn’t rule it as such, and that decision may have been what saved Davis from his first career loss. Roach was vocal about it afterward, saying, “If that was counted as a knockdown, I win the fight. He said it was grease in his eye, but the rules are the rules.”
The sold-out crowd of 19,250 made their feelings known, with many believing Roach had done enough to win. The Guardian even scored it 117-111 in Roach’s favor. Despite the dispute, Davis remained confident in his performance, stating, “I think I pulled it out in the last three rounds. I was breaking him down, but he kept coming, so I played it cautious.”
Roach, who was a 9-1 underdog, nearly pulled off the upset and proved he belongs among the elite. His performance was aggressive, calculated, and relentless. He landed clean shots throughout and controlled key moments of the fight. Though he didn’t get the belt, he certainly gained respect.
As for Davis, this result may raise questions. While he retained his title, the controversial nature of the draw could lead to calls for a rematch. Whether that happens or not, one thing is clear—this fight left the boxing world talking.
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