This weekend in Brooklyn, Gervonta Davis was taken the distance for the third time in 31 fights. In the opposite corner was Lamont Roach Jr, a man who many feel should now be the WBA lightweight champion of the world.
‘Tank’ retained his belt with a majority draw on the scorecards, boosted by a bizarre move by referee Steve Willis in the ninth round when he failed to call a knockdown despite the champion unquestionably taking a knee.
It was a rare occasion where Davis’ power failed to turn the tide of the fight, as Roach was willing to stand up and trade blows a bit more as the fight progressed, even forcing the champion to back off with his own punches on occasion. His performance and the unsanctioned knockdown allowed pound-for-pound superstar Terence Crawford to declare that Roach had been “robbed.”
It is only the second full round of twelve that ‘Tank’ Davis has completed after beating Isaac Cruz by unanimous decision in 2021. In his ninth fight he was also taken the distance by Germany’s Ivan Meraz, winning by unanimous decision after six.
At the post-fight press conference, Roach said the Baltimore knockout artist has “decent power” and said the fact he heard the final bell was due to his own chin.
“It’s got decent power. It’s got decent power, for sure. I’m not going to say I’m exaggerating. I just told you I have a chin. I’m not going to do that. It’s just not going to happen.”
“But like I said, I understand why he was knocking people out. I think he felt my power, too. I think that’s what nullified a lot of his punches. Once I got his best punch, I was like, oh, yeah, it’s time to roll. Like I said, I knew I had a chin. I trained with guys who were like junior middleweights, like current champions who were at that weight. So I know I can take a punch.
“He’s nervous out there. I understand why he knocks people out. I mean, it’s like being up close and personal, obviously I saw him on TV like that. But I understand why he knocks people out.”
Both fighters have expressed interest in a rematch, although ‘Tank’ Davis says it won’t be the next one.
