Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach fought to a controversial majority draw in their WBA lightweight title bout at Barclays Center in New York. (Al Bello/Getty Images)
Gervonta “Tank” Davis is still unbeaten, thanks in large part to a controversial decision made by referee Steve Willis in Saturday’s WBA lightweight championship bout against Lamont Roach at the Barclays Center in New York.
Davis took a knee in the opening minute of the ninth round so he could go back to his corner and wipe his eye after complaining that grease from his braids was bothering him. The lightweight champion didn’t give Willis any prior warning that he was going to do it, yet still no knockdown was counted. There are no breaks in boxing, and Davis’ kneel-down should’ve been counted as a knockdown, but it was not — and that decision by Willis ultimately saved Davis from losing what would’ve been a mammoth upset to Roach.
Davis ultimately retained his WBA lightweight title with a majority decision draw. Two judges scored the fight 114-114, six rounds apiece, and one judge gave Davis the nod by two rounds, scoring the contest 115-113. Had Willis properly called Davis’ peculiar moment in Round 9 a knockdown, Roach would’ve been declared the winner.
Davis rival Terence Crawford took to social media to voice his disagreement with the call.
I never seen someone take a knee and they don’t count it as a knock down. Must of forgot the rules for tonight.
Despite giving up the opening round, Davis started the fight well, winning the majority of the first half of the contest. Davis focused on the midsection of Roach in the early stages, attempting to bring Roach’s guard down so he could land his southpaw left hand, which he did effectively in the fifth round.
After the first half, Roach’s confidence grew and the WBA super featherweight champ began exchanging punches with the hard-hitting champion in the center of the ring.
“Tank” entered Saturday’s fight with a 93% KO rate, but Roach was never really hurt by him at any point. In fact, it was Roach who landed the hardest punch of the fight in Round 8, countering Davis’ left hand with a punch that pushed Davis back and off-balance.
Roach closed out the contest strong, taking the action to Davis and outworking him with combinations in the final round.
Roach outlanded Davis over the 12 rounds. The super featherweight champion connected with 112 of his 400 attempts, while Davis landed 103 of 279 punches thrown.
“I just got my hair done two days ago, and she put grease in my s***,” Davis explained in his post-fight interview. “When you are sweating and s*** like that, the grease came into my face and it burnt my eyes.”
“I’m a little disappointed in the decision, I thought I pulled it off,” Roach said after the fight. “But that is what happens sometimes when two skilled fighters get in there and do what they do.
“I definitely thought I won, hopefully we can run it back, but Gervonta is a great fighter.”
Catch up on all of Saturday’s action with full Davis vs. Roach results and highlights below, as well as Uncrowned’s play-by-play of the pay-per-view main card.
Main Card
WBA lightweight title: Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach ends in majority draw (115-113, 114-114, 114-114)
WBA super lightweight title: Gary Antuanne Russell def. Jose Valenzuela by unanimous decision (119-109, 119-109, 120-108)
WBC super lightweight title: Alberto Puello def. Sandor Martin via split decision (113-115, 115-113, 116-112)
WBA interim super welterweight title: Yoenis Tellez def. Julian Williams via unanimous decision (117-111, 118-110, 119-109)
Middleweight: Jarrett Hurd def. Johan Gonzalez via split decision (96-94, 94-96, 98-92)
Welterweight: David Whitmire def. Angel Munoz via unanimous decision (60-54, 60-54, 60-54)
Lightweight: Deric Davis def. Jamal Johnson via first-round TKO | Watch video
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER94 updates
Edgar Berlanga unimpressed with Gervonta Davis’ performance
Regis Prograis reacts to the controversy in round 9
Raymond Ford reacts to Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach
George Kambosos reacts to the controversy in round nine
Ouch there goes the perfect record!!! That was a knockdown!! that ultimately made the difference! The dwarf had a go at me for my losses to Haney and Loma, time to look at yourself Wankie Tankie, great work Roach. Respect!! Tankie the JIG is up!
— George “Ferocious” Kambosos Jr (@georgekambosos) March 2, 2025
Shakur Stevenson reacts to Davis-Roach
Ian even gone shit on dude like he would do me, But I’m still ready and willing to fight let’s make it happen 🦾
Bottom line: Based on taking that knee early in the ninth round, Gervonta Davis should have a loss on his record tonight. Lamont Roach should have won a split decision. #TankRoach
Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach can’t be split after twelve ultra-competitive rounds. Their fight is scored a majority-decision draw (115-113, 114-114, 114-114).
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach – Round 12
Davis looks on the verge of going the twelve-round distance for just the second time in his career.
Roach catches Tank with a counter left hook. Two minutes to go. Pair of body shots from Roach followed by a left hook-right hand from Roach.
Roach is letting his hands go. We are into the second half of the round, Roach could be winning this!
Right hand downstairs from Roach misses, Tank also misses with a left-hand counter.
10-9 Roach. Final score: 115-113 Lamont Roach
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach – Round 11
Roach lands with a right hand downstairs as we enter the second-minute of round 11. Right uppercut-left hook from Lamont Roach. Right hand from Roach followed by a combination, Tank was CAUGHT there again. Right-hand jab from Davis gets through. Roach throws a flurry, not all of it landing but it was eye-catching.
10-9 Roach, 105-104 Roach.
Prime Video unofficial scorecard
The Prime Video broadcast team also has Gervonta “Tank” Davis up 6-4 (96-94) against Lamont Roach through ten rounds.
Dan Rafael has Davis up 96-94 through 10 rounds
Rd 10: Tank 10-9 but very close round, both had their moments, this fight is close. 6-4 Tank #TankRoach#boxing
Davis and Roach exchanging power punches in the ninth!
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach – Round 9
Gervonta Davis TAKES A KNEE! It is unclear why. Davis retreats to his corner, it looks like he has forgotten his gumshield. Davis took a knee, though, and that should’ve been counted as a knockdown but it wasn’t.
Combination lands from Davis followed by a hard left hand. Roach looks off balance as Tank is loading up and connecting with power punches. Counter right-hand from Roach lands. Good counter-punching from Roach with the right hand in the final thirty seconds of the ninth.
10-9 Davis, 86-85 Davis
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach – Round 8
Roach connects with the jab as Davis is looking for a left-hand counter. Consistent use of the left hand has got Tank backed up. A pair of left hands land for Davis, but BIG RIGHT HAND from Roach and Davis was forced back there. Left uppercut from Roach follows, big moment in the contest for him.
Right hand from Roach in the final twenty seconds. Roach is making things very competitive.
10-9 Roach, 76-76
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach – Round 7
Counter left-hand goes Davis at the end of the first minute. Davis is fighting with a smile on his face now, he believes he has taken control of this one.
HARD left hand from Davis partially blocked by Roach, followed by a right hook from Davis. A pair of left hooks from Roach followed by three right hands on the inside. The challenger’s best work of the fight.
They exchange body shots late in the seventh. This one is heating up!
10-9 Roach, 67-66 Davis
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach – Round 6
Hard body shots from Davis early in the sixth. Tank was told by his corner to start putting his punches together now, and he’s doing just that.
Right hand partially lands for Roach. We are into the second half of the sixth, and Davis is finding a home for his counter left-hand on Roach’s chin. Davis is starting to turn the screw.
Two body shots from Davis in the final minute. Davis lands again with the left, Roach’s hands are down protecting his body and he eats the shots clean.
10-9 Davis, 58-56 Davis
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach – Round 5
Roach and Davis have landed a combined seven punches per round as we enter the fifth.
Combination from Roach, Davis responds with a left hand, Roach comes right back with his backhand. Two-punch attack from Roach as Davis was attempting a body shot. HARD left hand lands for Davis, his best connect in this fight.
The referee warns Davis and Roach for talking to each other during the fight.
10-9 Davis, 48-47 Davis
Amazon Prime Video’s unofficial scorecard
The Amazon Prime Video broadateam has Gervonta Davis 29-28 up against Lamont Roach through three rounds — the same as Uncrowned had it.
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach – Round 4
Left hook from Roach clips Davis early in the fourth. Counter left-hand from Davis as Roach was attempting to close the gap. Right uppercut from Roach connects as Tank was moving sidewards. Right hand from Roach at the end of the fourth.
