The New York Athletic Commission will investigate the knee taken by Gervonta Davis in his majority draw against Lamont Roach.
Davis took a knee during the middle of the ninth round and then got brief assistance from his corner — basically taken a timeout — because grease after getting his hair done this week had gotten into his eye, he claimed.
Lamont Roach wasn’t buying it, either.
Had Roach been credited with a knockdown when Davis' knee hit the canvas in the ninth round, he would have left Barclays Center wth the WBA lightweight championship.
Instead, Davis (30-0-1) held onto his belt when he and Roach fought to a majority draw, with the apparent missed knockdown keeping Davis from what would have been the first loss of his career.
The controversy has led to an official investigation.
"New York State Athletic Commission is reviewing the matter involving Saturday's match up between Lamont Roach and Gervonta Davis," a statement said.
Gervonta Davis takes a knee in the middle of round nine against Lamont Roach Jr. Getty
"During the round in question, following the commission's request for the replay video, there was a technical issue preventing the commission from receiving it within the allotted time for review. Therefore, the referee's in-ring decision was relied upon and the fight continued.
"The commission is dedicated to preserving the integrity of combative sports and is committed to working with all promotions and production teams — on behalf of the athletes, officials, and fans – to ensure technical issues do not occur in the future that prevent the delivery of ringside instant replay feeds to the commission's officials when needed."
Roach took to social media on Tuesday and seemed to suggest the decision would be reversed.
"Word round the block yall fav fight finna be 30-1 not 30-0-1… 2X x 2 Division champ."
The WBA is reportedly pushing for a rematch.
Gervonta Davis is warned by referee Steve Willis. Getty
One judge gave the fight to Davis 115-113, while the other two scored it 114-114.
After Davis knelt down near his corner in the ninth round, he leaned over the ropes so his team could towel off the area around his eye. Referee Steve Willis did not count it as a knockdown, as it should be when a knee hits the canvas. Had it been, Davis would have automatically lost a point.
“It should have been a knockdown. If that was knockdown, I win the fight,” Roach said. “
"He’s saying grease got in his eye, but if he takes a knee and the ref starts counting, it should be a knockdown.”
Fellow boxers were among the stunned observers wondering how Davis escaped a deduction that seemed so obvious.
“I never seen someone take a knee and they don’t count it as a knockdown. Must of forgot the rules for tonight,” multi-division champion Terence Crawford wrote on X.
Roach (25-1-2) fell just short in his attempt to add a belt in a second weight class after the 130-pound champion moved up to the 135-pound limit.
But he made it far closer than expected after Davis came in as a -1600 favourite on BetMGM, meaning a USD$1,600 wager would win just USD$100.
Davis knew much better than the oddsmakers. The Baltimore-based Davis had called Roach, an opponent in the amateur ranks from nearby Washington, the most-skilled fighter he had faced, rating him an “A-plus fighter".
And nearly a lightweight champion one on a night he landed more punches than Davis and stung him a few times with right hands, showing power that was rarely on display while he racked up just 10 knockouts in his career.
“I’m a little disappointed in the decision. I thought I pulled it out,” Roach said. “That’s what two skilled fighters do, go in there and show off their craft.”
Roach called for a rematch afterward, disgusted that he was not credited with the knockdown.
Had it been called, Roach could have won the ninth round by a 10-8 score. Instead, Davis finished the round strong — winning it 10-9 on two of the cards.
It was only the third time in Davis’ career he didn’t stop his opponent and he never really got close. He started cautiously, landing just one punch in the first round, surged in the middle of the fight but then Roach closed well.
“I made it competitive, to be honest,” Davis said. “For sure, Lamont is a great fighter. He got the skills, like I said before, and the punching power. It was a lesson learned. Shout out to Lamont Roach and his whole team. Hopefully we can run it back in New York.”
The crowd had always loved Davis during his three previous fights at Barclays Center, and this one drew an announced crowd of 19,250, a sellout that shattered its own attendance record for boxing and was the second-highest grossing event of any kind in the arena's history.
They roared when Davis came to the ring in a Yankees hat but jeered at the end.
“It’s all cool,” Davis said. “They love you, then they hate you. Then they love you again. You know what I mean?”