The boxing world was left flabbergasted after Gervonta “Tank” Davis escaped Barclays Center on Saturday with a majority draw against Lamont Roach.
The 30-year-old Davis, who is undefeated and was a heavy favorite, took a knee in the middle of the ninth round before retreating to his corner, where a member of his team wiped his face with a towel.
The unusual move, essentially a timeout, should’ve been assessed as a knockdown, and referee Steve Willis appeared to begin a 10-count. But Willis then can be heard on the broadcast telling Davis, “You take a knee like that, it looks like a knockdown.”
However, the fight continued without Roach being credited with knocking down Davis.
Lamont Roach's round nine knockdown over Gervonta Davis that incorrectly wasn't scored. The fight ended in a majority draw, 115-113 Davis, 114-114 x2. #DavisRoach
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That decision proved to be monumental, as two judges scored the bout 114-114, while a third judge scored it 115-113 for Davis, resulting in the majority draw and allowing Davis to retain the WBA lightweight title.
It was the first non-win of Davis’ career, though he remains undefeated at 30-0-1.
Davis said during a post-fight interview in the ring that he got his hair done on Thursday and grease from his hair was burning his eyes.
The crowd wasn’t buying it as they booed during Davis’ answer.
“Damn, why y’all booing like I’m saying bulls–t? Like this is real facts. C’mon man,” Davis said. “Look at my hair. I just got my s–t done.”
Roach, 29, thought he should’ve won the fight.
“It should have been a knockdown,” Roach said. “If that was knockdown, I win the fight. He’s saying grease got in his eye, but if he takes a knee and the ref starts counting, it should be a knockdown. It is what it is. I’m not banking on that knockdown to win. I just thought I pulled it out.”
Undefeated boxing star Terence Crawford was incredulous in a series of posts on X, declaring that Roach should’ve won and that Davis taking a knee was a knockdown.
“They robbed that boy and it’s crazy,” Crawford said.
“I never seen someone take a knee and they don’t count it as a knock down. Must of forgot the rules for tonight.”
Former welterweight champion Shawn Porter echoed Crawford’s sentiment.
“Round 9 should be a 10-8 round for Roach,” Porter wrote on X.
George Kambosos Jr. went after Davis over the result.
“Ouch there goes the perfect record!!! That was a knockdown!! that ultimately made the difference!” Kambosos wrote. “The dwarf had a go at me for my losses to [Devin] Haney and Loma [Vasiliy Lomachenko,] time to look at yourself Wankie Tankie, great work Roach. Respect!! Tankie the JIG is up!”
Women’s boxing star Claressa Shields was also in disbelief.
“How much they paying the ref ….. this is crazy,” Shields wrote.