Gervonta Davis Explains Taking a Knee

Gervonta “Tank” Davis retained his WBA lightweight title, but not without controversy. His fight against Lamont Roach ended in a majority draw, with a crucial ninth-round incident sparking heated debate. Had the referee ruled differently, Davis might have suffered his first career loss.

A Controversial Ninth-Round Incident

On Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Gervonta Davis faced off against the determined Lamont Roach. While Davis entered as a heavy favorite, the fight was far more competitive than expected. After 12 hard-fought rounds, the scorecards read 115-113 for Davis, with two judges scoring it 114-114, resulting in a majority draw.

The defining moment of the fight came in the ninth round when Davis unexpectedly took a knee after a punch from Roach. He then rushed to his corner, where his team wiped his face with a towel. Referee Steve Willis initially began counting, as per boxing rules for a knockdown, but then inexplicably stopped and allowed the fight to continue without a deduction.

This decision has been widely criticized, as taking a knee is typically considered a knockdown, which could have shifted the fight in Roach’s favor.

Davis’ Explanation Met with Skepticism

After the fight, Davis attempted to explain his actions, but his reasoning was met with boos from the crowd.

“I just got my hair done two days ago, and she put grease in my shit. The shit was like, you know when you’re sweating and things like that, and the grease came in my face and it burnt my eyes.”

His explanation did little to convince fans, prompting Davis to defend himself further.

“Damn, why are y’all booing like I’m saying bullshit? This is real facts. Come on, man! Look at my hair [takes off his hat], I just got my shit done.”

At the post-fight press conference, Davis elaborated on his decision to take a knee, admitting he was unaware of the consequences.

“I didn’t want to get caught while my eyes were burning. You can get knocked out like that. I’d rather take a knee, you know, but I didn’t know you could get disqualified for all that. When he started counting, I was like, what the hell, but it’s cool.”

Roach Believes He Deserved the Win

Lamont Roach did not hide his disappointment with the result and argued that he should have been declared the winner, regardless of the referee’s decision on the ninth-round incident.

“Honestly, I thought I should have won without that being counted a knockdown. I’m not the ref, you know what I’m saying, if he had to wipe sweat out of his eye he had to wipe sweat out of his eye. The rules do state if you take a knee it’s an automatic eight-count. If that was counted a knockdown, I would have won a majority decision.”

Many within the boxing world have echoed Roach’s sentiments, including undisputed welterweight champion Terence Crawford, who reacted strongly on social media.

“They robbed that kid.”

The debate over the referee’s call continues, with many experts calling for more consistent officiating in high-stakes fights.

Will There Be a Rematch?

With the fight ending in controversy, discussions about a rematch have already begun. Davis admitted he was not at his best and seemed open to running it back.

“I felt like I wasn’t at my best tonight. If the fans want it, we can do it again.”

Roach, confident in his performance, is eager for another shot at Davis.

“I know I can beat him. Let’s do it again.”

Given the uproar surrounding the fight and the potential impact on the lightweight division, a rematch could be inevitable. Fans and analysts alike are eager for a clear resolution between these two talented fighters.

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