No One Had Ever Made Gervonta Davis Look So Miserable Until Lamont Roach Came Along

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The boxing world was left stunned after the recent bout between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach Jr., a fight that ended in a highly debated majority draw. Held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, this match was expected to be another dominant performance by Davis, but instead, it turned into a career-defining moment for Roach.

With boxing fans and analysts still discussing the outcome, let’s break down everything that happened, from the lead-up to the fight, the key moments during the bout, and what’s next for both fighters.

Fight Night: Expectations vs. Reality

Heading into the fight, Gervonta Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) was widely regarded as one of the most dangerous punchers in boxing. Holding the WBA lightweight championship, Davis was coming off multiple knockout wins and was expected to handle Roach with ease.

On the other side, Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-1, 9 KOs) was moving up from the junior lightweight division. As the former WBA super featherweight champion, Roach had earned respect for his technical ability, but many questioned whether he could withstand Tank’s power.

Despite the odds, Roach entered the fight with supreme confidence, determined to prove he belonged at the elite level.

The Fight: Round-by-Round Breakdown

The match was an intense chess game from the opening bell, with Roach exceeding expectations. Here’s a breakdown of how the fight unfolded.

Rounds 1-4: Roach Sets the Pace

From the first round, Roach surprised Davis with his high work rate, sharp counterpunching, and movement. He threw more punches, landed clean jabs, and effectively used angles to avoid Tank’s power shots.

While Davis remained patient, it was clear that Roach wasn’t intimidated. He controlled the center of the ring and out-landed Davis in key exchanges.

Rounds 5-8: Davis Responds, but Roach Holds Strong

Davis began adjusting in the middle rounds, landing powerful left hands and body shots to slow Roach down. But unlike previous opponents, Roach didn’t crumble under the pressure.

Instead of retreating, Roach stood his ground, countering effectively and maintaining his volume. He out-threw Davis by over 100 punches during this stretch, proving his durability.

Round 9: The Controversial Knee

The most debated moment of the fight came in the ninth round, when Davis unexpectedly took a knee after a clean right hand from Roach.

Referee Steve Willis did not rule it as a knockdown, which immediately sparked controversy. Instead, he hesitated before asking Davis, “What happened? It looked like you took a knee.”

Davis later claimed his hair grease got into his eyes, forcing him to take a knee for a breather. Fans, however, weren’t convinced, and many believed the referee should have counted it as a knockdown.

Rounds 10-12: Roach Finishes Strong, Davis Looks Frustrated

Roach sensed an opportunity in the championship rounds and increased his pressure. In the final round, he out-landed Davis 16-9, closing the fight strong.

Davis, who is usually a devastating finisher, looked frustrated and unable to find a knockout shot.

Final Scorecards and Controversy

After 12 rounds, the judges’ scores were:

• 115-113 Davis

• 114-114 (two judges)

The majority draw decision was met with loud boos from the crowd, with many believing Roach had done enough to win.

CompuBox Stats Tell the Story

According to CompuBox statistics, Roach:

• Threw 121 more punches than Davis

• Landed 15 more jabs than Davis

• Slightly out-landed Davis overall

However, Davis landed six more power punches, which may have influenced the judges.

Post-Fight Reactions: Mixed Opinions

The result immediately sparked debate within the boxing world.

• Roach’s Reaction: “I believe I won the fight. I outworked him, out-landed him, and made him take a knee. What else do I need to do?”

• Davis’s Response: “I feel like I won the last three rounds, and that should’ve sealed the victory.”

• Promoters and Analysts: Many called for an official review of the ninth-round knee, with some saying it should have counted as a knockdown.

Gervonta Davis Removed from Pound-for-Pound Rankings

As a result of the controversial draw, Ring Magazine removed Gervonta Davis from their pound-for-pound top 10 list, replacing him with David Benavidez.

This move signals a major shift in Davis’s reputation, as many previously considered him one of boxing’s top five fighters.

What’s Next for Davis and Roach?

With the fight ending in a draw, the next steps for both fighters are crucial.

Option 1: A Rematch?

Given the controversy, a rematch between Davis and Roach makes perfect sense. Fans want to see a decisive winner, and both fighters seem open to running it back.

Option 2: Davis vs. Shakur Stevenson?

Another possibility is a super fight between Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson, known for his elite defense and technical skills, has been calling for a fight against Tank for years.

A matchup between Davis and Stevenson would be a massive pay-per-view event, pitting Stevenson’s precision and movement against Tank’s explosive power. However, given Davis’s recent struggles against Roach, he may want a tune-up fight before facing an opponent as skilled as Stevenson.

Option 3: Roach vs. a New Opponent

Lamont Roach Jr. has significantly raised his stock with his performance against Davis. Even if a rematch doesn’t happen immediately, he could:

• Fight another top contender like Keyshawn Davis or Vasiliy Lomachenko

• Challenge for a different lightweight championship belt

• Wait for Davis to decide on a rematch

Regardless of what happens next, Roach is now firmly in the conversation as one of the top lightweight contenders.

Did the Referee’s Call Change Boxing History?

The most significant talking point from this fight remains the ninth-round knee. Many believe that if referee Steve Willis had ruled it a knockdown, Roach would have won the fight outright.

Impact of the Decision:

• If it was ruled a knockdown, Roach might have won a majority decision (115-113 or 114-113).

• A clear victory would have catapulted Roach into superstardom, possibly setting up massive future fights.

• Davis would have suffered his first professional loss, which could have changed his career trajectory.

The controversy has led to renewed discussions about officiating in boxing and whether certain fighters receive “star treatment” when it comes to close decisions.

The Bigger Picture: What This Fight Means for Boxing

The Davis vs. Roach Jr. fight was an instant classic, showcasing:

• The unpredictability of boxing

• The importance of volume punching and aggression

• That no fighter is invincible, not even Tank Davis

Roach’s performance proved that technical boxing and smart strategy can neutralize power punchers, a lesson that future Davis opponents will surely study.

Meanwhile, Davis’s struggles highlight potential weaknesses that fighters like Stevenson, Lomachenko, or Teofimo Lopez could exploit.