Gervonta Davis narrowly retained his WBA lightweight title on Saturday night after a majority draw with Lamont Roach Jr in a tightly contested bout at Barclays Center. A controversial moment in the ninth round played a key role in the final outcome, as Davis took a knee but was not penalized, allowing him to escape with his undefeated record intact.
One judge scored the fight 115-113 in favor of Davis, while the other two had it level at 114-114, keeping the three-weight champion unbeaten. The decision drew frustration from many observers, with some believing Roach had done enough to win.
The most contentious moment came in the ninth round when Davis voluntarily took a knee near his corner, appearing to seek assistance due to an issue with his eye. By boxing’s unified rules, this should have been ruled a knockdown, which would have cost Davis a point. Some even argued that the moment warranted disqualification due to potential interference from his corner. However, the referee chose to issue only a warning and allowed Davis to continue, a decision that significantly impacted the final result.
A sold-out crowd of 19,250 voiced their displeasure when Davis later claimed grease from his hair had impaired his vision. Roach expressed his frustration after the fight, stating that the moment should have been ruled a knockdown. Despite his disappointment, he remained focused on his performance rather than the controversy, believing he had done enough to win the fight.
Roach, who had been granted special permission to hold his WBA title at 130 pounds while moving up to 135 to challenge Davis, entered as a significant underdog. However, he defied expectations by controlling large portions of the fight.
Davis admitted he had a slow start but felt he had done enough to edge the later rounds. He landed some of his best shots in the championship rounds but struggled to break Roach’s resolve. The challenger remained composed, using movement and counterpunching to frustrate Davis and land key shots, including a sharp right hand in the seventh round that stunned the champion.
Roach’s confidence grew as the fight progressed. He landed a strong counter uppercut in the eighth and dictated the pace through much of the contest. By the final rounds, Davis was swinging wildly, often missing, while Roach remained disciplined and continued landing crisp counters.
In the final stretch, Roach appeared to have the edge, especially after securing the 11th round with a clean counter right. Davis, known for his late-fight power, attempted to force a dramatic finish but couldn’t land the decisive blow.
Both fighters called for a rematch afterward. Roach, who landed 112 of 400 punches (28%), compared to Davis’ 103 of 279 (36.9%), stated his desire to prove himself again on the big stage. Davis acknowledged Roach’s skill and admitted he didn’t perform at his best but remained confident in his abilities.
The controversial draw leaves questions about what’s next for both fighters, but with the heated debate surrounding the decision, a rematch seems like a natural conclusion.
