Lillard reacts to controversial Gervonta moment that “robbed” Roach of win
A bruising night for the undefeated star, as a surprise challenger pushes him to the limit at Barclays Center.
It was not Gervonta Davis’ night (30-0-1, 28 KOs). The American, long used to finishing his fights inside the distance — usually with spectacular knockouts — failed to win for the first time in his professional career. In the early hours, Davis was held to a majority draw (115-113, 114-114, 114-114) by Lamont Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs), a reigning champion from a lower weight class. Tank seemed to fall asleep at times during the bout, and the challenger ended up spoiling his night at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
Tanks gets majority draw
Lamont and Gervonta know each other well. They fought when they were kids and already have experience sharing the ring. “We grew up in this sport together, so we know each other well,” said Tank after the judges’ verdict was announced. The fight started cautiously, with both men feeling each other out over the first two rounds. Gervonta moved around the ring, landing single shots, while Lamont held his ground in the center. From the third round onwards, the champion picked up the pace, throwing more punches and raising the intensity of the fight. He even started to smile as he moved, showing Roach he didn’t feel remotely threatened. Tank kept pressing, only to find his opponent standing firm — though two sharp right hands from Davis were a clear reminder of who was in charge. Lamont charged at him, trying to pin him against the ropes.
The pattern continued in the second half of the fight. Gervonta applied pressure as he moved, landing clean shots, but Lamont refused to back down. In the eighth round, the challenger connected with a dangerous right hand that wobbled Tank. Even so, Davis kept his composure, brimming with confidence. Roach stayed in the fight, but Davis dodged and countered with blistering speed. The champion had not expected his opponent to be such a tough nut to crack, and as Roach grew in confidence, he began to dream of pulling off a stunning upset. The pair traded more blows in the closing rounds, and the tension was palpable as the final bell rang.
A majority draw. For the first time, Gervonta Davis left the ring without a win on his record — though he did retain his title. The crowd booed the champion and cheered Roach, for whom this result felt much closer to a victory than a draw. “I think I did the better work, landed cleaner shots. Lamont is a great fighter. He’s got the technique and the skills. He was a tough opponent,” said Tank. A rematch now feels inevitable. “I hope we get a rematch — he deserves it,” Davis added. Everyone underestimated Lamont, including Davis himself, who never found his best form and, in the end, had to cede the spotlight to his opponent.
The controversy
The ninth round was where the major talking point emerged. Tank took a knee, but was not handed a knockdown count, something Roach believed was key: “If that’s a knockdown, I win the fight. He’s [Davis] saying grease got in his eye, but if he takes a knee and the ref starts counting, it should be a knockdown.”
The reaction online seemed to agree.
“They robbed that boy and it’s crazy,” posted Terence Crawford. Damian Lillard also opined, although a little more measured: “I ain’t gone lie. Ima big Tank fan but I thought Roach edged that one out bro.”
Valenzuela loses his crown
Gervonta wasn’t the only one to suffer a bitter night. José Valenzuela (14-3-0, 9 KOs) lost his WBA super lightweight title in his first defense. There was little sign of the fighter who took the belt from Pitbull Cruz (27-3-1, 18 KOs) just months ago. Gary Russell (18-1-0, 17 KOs) claimed a dominant unanimous decision (119-109, 119-109, 120-108), controlling the fight from start to finish – fully recovered from the first defeat of his career. For the first time, Russell needed the scorecards to secure a victory. A night of unexpected results for the sport of boxing.
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