Boxing fans were left fuming after a highly questionable refereeing decision potentially cost Lamont Roach the biggest victory of his career.
Instead of celebrating an upset win, Roach had to settle for a draw against Gervonta “Tank” Davis on Saturday night at the Barclays Center, sparking outrage across the boxing community.
A Puzzling Ninth-Round Moment
In a bizarre sequence during the ninth round, Davis, the reigning WBA lightweight champion, suddenly took a knee without being visibly hurt.
Roach had landed a right hand, and instead of responding with a counter, Davis backed up and voluntarily dropped to one knee.
According to Davis, his reason for doing so had nothing to do with Roach’s punch—it was because grease from a recent hair appointment had gotten into his eyes, causing a burning sensation.
However, what happened next shocked everyone.
Referee Steve Willis initially began an eight-count, but then inexplicably stopped at two and instead asked Davis what was wrong.
When Davis explained the issue, Willis responded, “I understand, but when you take a knee like that, it looks like a knockdown.”
Despite this admission, he chose not to officially score it as a knockdown, a decision that drastically altered the fight’s outcome.
The Decision That Changed Everything
With the fight going the distance, the scorecards reflected just how much that moment mattered.
Two judges scored the bout 114-114, while a third had it 115-113 in favor of Davis, resulting in a majority draw.
Had Willis ruled the ninth-round knee as a knockdown, Roach would have secured a career-defining victory.
Boxing analyst Chris Mannix later revealed that veteran referees he consulted all agreed the sequence should have been scored as a knockdown.
One referee even suggested that Davis could have been disqualified for taking an unapproved timeout to have his face wiped by his corner.
Backlash From the Boxing World
The controversial ruling didn’t sit well with fans and fellow boxers alike.
Two-weight undisputed champion Terence Crawford was among the loudest critics, taking to social media to call out the decision.
“Roach won and that should have been called a knockdown. Let’s see what happens,” Crawford wrote on X.
He later added, “They robbed that boy and it’s crazy. I never seen someone take a knee and they don’t count it as a knockdown. Must have forgotten the rules tonight.”
Fans echoed his sentiments, with one commenting, “Robbed in broad daylight man. With cameras in every corner.” Another wrote, “It should be a knockdown. Roach won that.”
Even some Davis supporters struggled to justify the decision.
“Yeah. I’m a huge Tank fan, but I can’t defend this. I’ve never seen something like this before. Wild!” admitted one fan. Others simply called the outcome “rigged.”
Davis and Roach React
Davis, who remains undefeated but now has a draw on his 31-fight record, defended his actions post-fight.
“I didn’t want to get caught while my eyes was burning,” he explained.
“And you can’t get knocked out like that. So I’d rather take the knee. But I didn’t really know that you can, like, get disqualified for all that. When [Willis] started counting, I’m like, ‘What the hell?’”
Meanwhile, Roach expressed his frustration, believing he had done enough to win.
“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.”
What’s Next for Davis and Roach?
With the fight ending in a draw under such controversial circumstances, the demand for a rematch is already growing.
Roach has made it clear that he wants another shot at Davis, and with the public outcry surrounding the result, it would be hard for promoters to ignore the possibility of a rematch.
Will the WBA step in and investigate the refereeing decision?
Could Roach get another shot at Davis in the near future? One thing is certain—the boxing world won’t forget this fight anytime soon.