Terence Crawford once confidently declared that only Keyshawn Davis and Shakur Stevenson could be the ones to give Gervonta Davis his first “L”. But it seems like the credit might go to the WBA super featherweight champion, Lamont Roach Jr.— or at least, that’s how it’s shaping up. The Reaper moved up a weight class to face the WBA Lightweight champion, and he certainly didn’t disappoint. He gave Davis a run for his money and made it clear that he wasn’t just another stepping stone.
The fight night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn was anything but predictable; this included Tank Davis’ controversial ninth-round knee, which, shockingly, wasn’t ruled a knockdown as is typically the case. While the fight ended in a draw, it’s evident that Team Lamont Roach Jr. isn’t about to roll over and accept the final verdict. With a million-dollar future on the line, they have now decided to take matters into their own hands to secure what they feel is rightfully theirs.
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr. inches closer to a legal battle
A few hours ago, The Ring Magazine shared an update. The post read, “ROACH’S LAWYER REQUESTS NEW YORK COMMISSION OVERTURN RESULT OF TANK FIGHT.” For those who may not know, Gervonta Davis initially explained that grease from his new hairdo got into his eyes, causing him to take a knee and check with his corner. Despite his explanation, the incident continued to raise questions, especially given its potential impact on a title fight. Veteran journalist Dan Rafael has now reported that Roach Jr.’s lawyer, Greg Smith, has sent a letter to New York State Athletic Commission executive director Matt Delaglio. In the four-page letter, Smith is calling for the NYSAC to overturn the majority draw and declare Roach Jr “the true winner of the bout.”
Team Roach raised several concerns in the official letter, particularly about Tank Davis taking a voluntary knee in the 9th round, after the 29-year-old landed a three-punch combo, with at least one punch connecting to Davis’ eye. This clearly makes it seem like a knockdown. Other officiating errors were also brought to light. They pointed out that after getting up, the Baltimore native turned his back and headed to his corner, signaling that he was quitting.
When his trainer, Calvin Ford, climbed the ring steps with a towel to wipe Davis’ face, that was a direct violation of the rules and should have resulted in a disqualification. As a result, with no knockdown being called, judges Eric Malinski and Glenn Feldman scored the 9th round in favor of Davis. However, Judge Steve Weisfeld gave the round to Lamont Roach Jr.
It seems that with an official complaint raised, Roach’s team is gearing up for a legal battle to help overturn the March 1 decision. If it works and the knockdown is counted, Lamont Roach may just be declared the new WBA lightweight champion, and Tank will have to bear a loss on his record, as many feel he should.
Turki Alalshikh slams Ref Steve Willis over the ‘no knockdown’
Despite being the betting favorite and the so-called ‘face of boxing,’ Gervonta Davis came dangerously close to losing his WBA Lightweight title. Not only did the WBA super featherweight champion trade blows with Davis, but he also pushed the champion to his limits, even forcing Davis to cling to the ropes for support. When the fight ended, no one’s hand was raised, and the result was a majority decision draw. However, many fans and experts, even Lamont Roach Jr. himself, believed that had the referee called the knee, he would have won by unanimous decision.
While the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) is investigating the matter and could potentially overturn the decision, the mistake by Willis hasn’t gone unnoticed. Saudi Boxing figurehead His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, who has had a tense relationship with Davis, took to social media to call out Willis. “NO KNOCKDOWN,” Alalshikh posted on X, sharing an image of Willis.
NO KNOCKDOWN pic.twitter.com/RqufeDs3bo
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) March 4, 2025
Considering that Steve Willis is regarded as a veteran referee with over 268 bouts under him, the fact that such a significant mistake—whether a rookie error or simply a missed call—was made is definitely concerning. With that in mind, do you agree with Lamont Roach Jr.’s claims that he was robbed of a rightful victory? And, given the intensity of their encounter, do you think a rematch is in the cards for these two anytime soon?
The post Gervonta Davis in Serious Trouble as Team Lamont Roach Jr. Take a Step Forward in New York Commission’s Knockdown Investigation appeared first on EssentiallySports.