Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach Jr: Controversy and Draw in WBA Lightweight Championship

Image credits: Esther Lin/Premier Boxing Champions

The highly anticipated WBA lightweight championship fight between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr ended in a majority draw, with two judges scoring the fight 114-114 and a third judge scoring it 115-113 in Davis' favor. The sold-out crowd of 19,250 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, was left stunned and divided, with some feeling that Roach had done enough to win the fight.

Davis, known for his knockout power, was expected to dominate the fight, but Roach proved to be a formidable opponent, using his jab to keep Davis at bay and landing several good shots throughout the fight. The most controversial moment of the night came in the ninth round when Davis took a knee after being touched by a jab, but referee Steve Wilkes decided not to score a knockdown for Roach. Davis claimed that grease from his hair had gotten into his eye, causing him to take a knee, but Roach felt that he should have been awarded a knockdown.

The fight was a closely contested and tactical affair, with both fighters giving their all and leaving everything in the ring. Davis landed 103 of 279 punches, while Roach was more active, landing 112 of 400 punches. The combinations thrown by both fighters were impressive, but in the end, the judges were unable to separate them, resulting in a majority draw. The scores were as follows:

• 114-114 (Judge 1)
• 114-114 (Judge 2)
• 115-113 (Judge 3)

The draw was a disappointing result for both fighters, with Davis feeling that he had done enough to win and Roach believing that he had been robbed of a victory. Despite the controversy, both fighters showed respect for each other and expressed a desire to run it back in the future. The fight was a testament to the skill and determination of both Davis and Roach, and it will be interesting to see how they bounce back from this result.

In the end, Davis retained his WBA lightweight title, but the draw has left many questions unanswered. Will Davis and Roach face each other again in the future? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain - this fight will be remembered for a long time, and the controversy surrounding the potential knockdown will continue to be debated by fans and pundits alike.