The controversy surrounding the fight between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. is heating up. The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) is now under pressure after Roach’s team filed an official request to overturn the decision.
Yesterday, the NYSAC announced they’re analyzing the fight’s result, sparking serious debate among fans, analysts, and even fighters.
Gervonta Davis ‘Pushing’ for Lamont Roach Jr. Rematch — He Responds
The Ninth Round That Changed Everything
If you saw the fight, you know round nine was where it all went left. Gervonta Davis dropped to one knee, went to his corner, and wiped his eyes—claiming some “grease” was burning him. But here’s the thing: Referee Steve Willis didn’t call it a knockdown.
Now, boxing rules are clear:
If a fighter’s knee touches the canvas without being pushed or knocked down, the opponent should win the round decisively.
The ref can either count it as a knockdown, rule a stoppage, or even disqualify the fighter for abandoning the round.
But none of those things happened. Instead, Willis let Tank off the hook, and the fight continued as if nothing happened.
This decision gave Davis a huge advantage on the scorecards, leading to the final result: a draw.
Referee Steve Willis Under Fire for His Decision
Sources say the NYSAC is even considering sanctioning referee Steve Willis for how he handled the fight. And let’s be real—boxing refs don’t usually face consequences unless they really mess up.
The three major issues being raised:
No knockdown was counted – Davis went down, but Willis didn’t even start a count.
No disqualification was issued – If Davis couldn’t continue due to an issue outside of a legal punch, he could’ve been ruled out.
No TKO or official ruling – Instead of handling it like any other fight, Willis let Davis recover, changing the fight’s outcome.
Roach’s team isn’t letting this slide. They want justice—not just for Roach, but for boxing as a whole. Because if this kind of stuff keeps happening, the sport loses credibility.
Lamont Roach’s Lawyer Takes Legal Action
Word on the street is Lamont Roach’s lawyer is applying serious pressure. A formal letter was sent to the New York State Athletic Commission, demanding they overturn the fight’s result and declare Roach the rightful winner.
According to the letter:
“Lamont Roach is the real winner of the fight against Gervonta Davis at the weekend and should get the win by technical knockout or unanimous decision, after the scores have been adjusted to reflect the knockdown.”
What Happens If the Fight Result Changes?
If the NYSAC agrees to review and change the decision, here’s what it means:
Roach would be crowned the new WBA lightweight champion
The official scorecards would shift to 115-112, 114-113, and 114-113.
Davis would take an official loss, which could impact future title fights
