Gervonta “Tank” Davis may have been a little too distracted by his recent hair appointment when he entered the ring against Lamont Roach Jr. in their highly anticipated title fight.
Two days before the championship bout, Davis had his hair braided, and according to him, the grease used to keep his locks in place played a big role in his performance.
The oil from his hair treatment kept dripping into his face, burning his eyes and affecting his ability to fight at his usual level.
Despite that, the fight ended in a majority draw, marking the first blemish on Davis’ otherwise perfect career.
One judge scored the fight in his favor, giving him a two-point edge, but the other two judges called it a 114-114 tie.
A rematch seems to be on the horizon, with the two fighters potentially meeting again in New York later this year. Roach, however, has expressed a desire to bring the fight closer to home.
A Critical Moment and the Debate Over the Knockdown
One of the most talked-about moments of the fight came in the ninth round when Davis went down to a knee, seemingly in response to Roach’s pressure.
Referee Steve Willis didn’t count it as a knockdown, claiming it was a voluntary knee, not one caused directly by a punch.
Many people were left wondering whether the lack of an 8-count was fair, and whether the knockdown could have changed the outcome of the fight.
Had that moment been ruled a knockdown, it could’ve given Roach a huge advantage and potentially handed him the title.
Instead, the fight continued, and the judges made their controversial call.
The crowd seemed to accept Davis’ defense of his title after the first judge’s score was read, but shock and confusion swept through the arena when the result was announced.
Davis’ Hair Grease Excuse Draws Boos
Davis later explained his decision to go down to a knee, citing the irritation caused by the grease in his hair.
“I just got my hair done two days ago, and she put grease in my s***,” he said.
“When you sweat, and things like that, the grease came in my face, it burnt my eyes.”
While this explanation was clearly important to him, the Brooklyn crowd wasn’t impressed, and they booed him.
“Damn, why y’all booing like I’m saying bulls***? Like, this is real facts,” Davis responded. “Look at my hair, I just got my s*** done.”
Roach, on the other hand, was critical of the referee’s decision to not count the knee as a knockdown.
He felt that if it had been ruled as one, he would have won the fight. “If that’s a knockdown, I win the fight,” Roach said.
“I’m a little disappointed in the decision; I thought I pulled it out.
It’s a win for me in my book, but we’re not satisfied with that. We need a real W.”
The Need for a Rematch
After the fight, both fighters made it clear that they wanted a rematch.
Roach especially felt that the decision didn’t do justice to his performance, and he expressed a desire to fight Davis again, with a clearer outcome.
Many boxing fans had initially seen Roach as just a stepping stone for Davis, who had bigger plans on the horizon, including a potential showdown with Shakur Stevenson later in the year.
The fight took place at the Barclays Center, a venue where Davis had previously won three title fights by knockout.
But on this night, the energy in the arena shifted.
The pro-Davis crowd started to rally behind Roach as the underdog surprised everyone with his poise and determination in what was the biggest fight of his career.
Davis’ Streak Finally Ends
For Davis, the night marked the first time in over a decade that he didn’t end a fight with a knockout.
His last non-knockout win had been in October 2014, well before he became the WBA Lightweight Champion.
The surprising draw with Roach has certainly left people questioning what’s next for the champion, and it seems that fans can expect a lot more drama in their potential rematch.