The controversial result with which Gervonta Davis retained the World Boxing Association lightweight title after a majority draw against Lamont Roach Jr. left all those involved dissatisfied, although for Tank there is only one explanation, but at the end of the fight he said he was willing to a rematch.
The scores of 115-113 and 114-114 on two occasions were so close that the point that should have been deducted for kneeling in the ninth round would have made the difference and Roach Jr. should have won to take away the undefeated record of Gervonta, who, instead, raised his record to 31 wins in what was his sixth defense
During the ninth round, Roach appeared to land a jab to Davis‘ eye, who to the surprise of all the spectators turned around and knelt on the canvas, before receiving help from his corner to wipe the area around his eye with a towel, a momentary rest that he justified by saying that the grease that got into his eye after combing his hair that week made it difficult for him to continue.
Gervonta Davis’ unlikely explanation
Davis found the culprit for his controversial defense and pointed out that during the week he had his hair styled, but the grease from his hair got into his eye, but the fall his attitude should have counted as a fall and instead of winning the round 10-9 on two of the judges’ scorecards. Roach would have won it 10-8.
“But this is what happened, and I can only blame myself. But I say no more,” Gervonta posted on his X account, while earlier, in the post-fight interview he had explained: “I combed my hair two days ago and put grease on my face.”
However, Tank‘s explanation not only left the fans who booed him at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn dissatisfied, but also boxing expert Rick Glaser published on his X account an extensive analysis, in which he rejects the version and assures that it was because of the blow that Davis received in the eye.
“He didn’t just kneel like Tank says, he did it because he got hit right in the eye,” Glaser said on his X account.
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