Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. fought to a majority draw, the first blemish on the lightweight champion’s record in his career.
One judge scored the bout two points in favor of Davis, while the other two scored it 114-114.
A rematch is likely the next bout for the combatants, with the DC area natives possibly wanting round two back in New York later this year.
As soon as the first score was announced, the crowd had resigned to a successful title defense for Davis, with everyone, including the combatants shocked by the controversial decision.
Arguably the critical moment of the fight saw Davis go to a knee in the ninth round with the champion escaping a knock down according to referee Steve Willis.
Roach may have only not been granted a knock down due to it being a voluntary knee, not directly from any punch, that caused Davis to leave his feet.
Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. fought to a majority draw on Saturday night
One judge scored the bout two points in favor of Davis, while the other two scored it 114-114
Davis blamed him going to a knee and going between the ropes at the beginning at the ninth round on a hair appointment on Thursday, two days before the fight.
‘I just got my hair done two days ago and she put grease in my s***, when you sweatin’ and things like that, the grease came in my face, it burnt my eyes,’ Davis said.
Davis not giving credit to Roach elicited boos from the Brooklyn crowd.
‘Damn, why y’all booing like I’m saying bulls****, like this is real facts. C’mon man, look at my hair, I just got my s*** done.’
Roach blamed the referee not counting Davis going to a knee as the difference in the fight.
‘If that’s a knockdown, I win the fight. I’m a little disappointed in the decision, I thought I pulled it out. I definitely thought I won. We can run it back. It’s a win for me in my book but we’re not satisfied with that, we need a real W.’
‘It should have been a knockdown. 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.’
After the fight, both men were interviewed inside the ring and expressed their interest in a rematch, as well as how the judges should have given them the win.
Many in boxing thought Roach was a transitional opponent for Davis, as a bigger fight against Shakur Stevenson appeared to be looming later in 2025.
It was the fourth fight for Davis inside Barclays Center, winning each of the previous three title fights by knockout.
On Saturday, the pro-Davis crowd started to flip to Roach mid-fight with the underdog not being intimidated in the biggest fight of his career.
Davis’ last night not to end with him knocking out his opponent was in October 2014, eight fights before he became WBA Lightweight Champion.
