There’s no point crying over spilled milk when it comes to what went down on March 1 in Brooklyn. You’re either in the camp that believes that the draw was appropriate and Gervonta Davis did well/better, or you’re siding with Lamont Roach Jr., saying he dropped Tank in the ninth round and thus deserved the victory. No middle ground here. But here’s the deal—after a recent appeal to overturn the original draw from Roach’s team, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) recognized the mistake on referee Steve Willis’ part to not rule the knee a knockdown, yet upheld the original draw. In the end, sadly for Roach, the result stood—a draw, just like before the appeal.
Now, with both guys itching for a rematch, pointing fingers won’t change a thing. Even after the NYSAC doubled down on the knockdown call, one of Tank’s coaches, Kenny Ellis, still isn’t buying it. He’s sticking to his guns, standing by his fighter, and insisting it wasn’t legit. So, what’s got him so convinced?
Gervonta Davis’ coach: Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but…
Yesterday, FightHype.com caught up with Coach Kenny Ellis for a quick interview to discuss the controversy surrounding the Tank-Roach fight. When asked if he was ever worried about the decision being reversed, Ellis kept it short and to the point. He said he never really thought it would be overturned. Why? Because Gervonta Davis didn’t break any rules. “He didn’t break the rules,” the coach stated confidently.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 01: Gervonta Davis punches Lamont Roach Jr. during their bout for Davis’ WBA lightweight title at Barclays Center on March 01, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
He acknowledged that some people saw the knee incident and had their own opinions, but at the end of the day, boxing is boxing, and the commission made the right call. “Everybody asking the same over and over. Everybody got their own opinion. So it is what it is. That’s boxing,” he added.
The reporter then moved on from that topic and asked if we’d see the 30-year-old fight again this year, maybe against the same Reaper in a rematch. Ellis didn’t give a clear answer to that. He said he hasn’t heard anything yet. He made it clear that whatever Tank decides, whether it’s fighting again or even walking away from boxing, he’ll support him no matter what. Expressing his unwavering support for the Baltimore native, Tank’s longtime trainer declared, “Whatever he decides to do, I support him. If he says I don’t want to box anymore, I’ll support it. Tank is forever great in my eyes.”
Basically, it’s a waiting game now, and we’ll just have to see what happens next. But the wait might not be long. A rematch is inevitable, it’s not a matter of if but when. The wheels are already in motion, and talks are heating up to lock in the date.
Fight night could be just two months away!
So, it looks like we’re getting a Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr. rematch sooner rather than later. How soon? Well, according to @BoxingKingdom, June is looking like the likely month. “The Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach rematch will likely happen in June,” the boxing account tweeted.
The Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach rematch will likely happen in June.
— Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) March 13, 2025
And they’re not the only ones saying it. Michael Woods, a well-respected boxing analyst who’s worked with ESPN and The Ring, also speculated that June could be the month we see these two run it back. He said, “June looks likely for @OneOf1x v @Gervontaa rematch.”
Now, the big question: where’s it gonna happen? Woods threw out the idea of Las Vegas. Because let’s be real, Vegas is the money spot for big fights. But hold on, there’s a solid argument for keeping it on the East Coast as well. The first fight was in New York; it sold out, and both fighters are from the Eastern U.S. Wouldn’t it make sense to keep up that same energy?
So, what do you think? Vegas or East Coast? Either way, June is shaping up to be a big month for boxing. Who do you think will win this time, Gervonta Davis or Lamont Roach Jr.? Do share your thoughts with us below.
The post “Didn’t Break the Rules”: Gervonta Davis Gets Rare Backing as New York Commission Adds to Lamont Roach Jr’s Disappointment appeared first on EssentiallySports.