Gervonta Davis Explains Taking The Knee During The Roach Fight, Gets Booed By The Crowd Instead

Gervonta Davis faces backlash after taking a knee during his fight with Lamont Roach ended in a majority draw

Gervonta Davis Explains Taking The Knee During The Roach Fight, Gets Booed By The Crowd Instead

Boxing fans have always had strong reactions when championship fights don’t end decisively. The recent WBA lightweight championship bout between Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis and Lamont Roach at Barclays Center was no exception. The match that ended in a controversial majority draw left many spectators questioning what happened, especially regarding a moment in the ninth round that could have changed everything.

Davis, who entered the ring with an impressive 30-0 record and riding a four-knockout winning streak, found himself in an unexpectedly competitive fight against Roach. The challenger had moved up from super featherweight to challenge for Davis’ lightweight title, and despite being a massive underdog, Lamont Roach gave Tank one of the toughest tests of his career.

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Controversy In The Ninth Round

The most controversial moment came during the ninth round when Davis willingly went to one knee near his corner. According to boxing rules, anytime a fighter’s knee touches the canvas during action, it should be counted as a knockdown. This would result in an automatic point deduction. However, referee Steve Willis didn’t count it as such. Instead, he allowed Davis to lean over the ropes while his corner toweled off the area around his eye.

When Davis later explained that the issue was simply grease from his hair getting into his eye, the sold-out Barclays Center crowd showered him with boos. Many fans felt this was a convenient excuse for what appeared to be a moment of desperation, and the controversy only intensified when the judges’ scorecards were announced.

Tank just took a knee 😳pic.twitter.com/oR7fYG9Ree
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 2, 2025

The final decision saw one judge scoring the fight 115-113 for Davis, while the other two scored it 114-114, resulting in a majority draw. This outcome allowed Davis to retain his title but ended his perfect record and knockout streak. He now stands at 30-0-1, with the draw being the first blemish on his otherwise flawless professional record.

GERVONTA DAVIS VS LAMONT ROACH IS DECLARED A MAJORITY DRAW! #TankRoach pic.twitter.com/xVJwJj32QV
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) March 2, 2025

For Roach, this was a moral victory if not an actual one. Moving up in weight class to challenge one of boxing’s biggest stars, he proved he belongs among the elite. His record moves to 25-1-2, and his stock has undoubtedly risen despite not securing the championship.

The Aftermath Of The Event

The aftermath has already sparked calls for a rematch. With such a competitive and controversial first meeting, boxing fans will likely demand to see these two settle things definitively. For Tank Davis, who has been accustomed to finishing opponents, this experience might serve as a wake-up call about vulnerability and preparation.

As for that moment when Davis took a knee? It will be debated in boxing circles for years to come. Was it truly just hair grease in the eye, or was ‘Tank’ looking for a breather in a fight that was much tougher than expected? Whatever the truth, the New York crowd made their opinion known loud and clear with those resounding boos.

(Image Credit: BoxingNewsED – X)

Gervonta Davis

Lamont Roach

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!