Gervonta “Tank” Davis should be recognized as the former WBA lightweight champion, yet here we are. In the boxing world, power, influence, and the predetermined script often seem to take precedence.
Last Saturday at the Barclays Center, Davis, who had been tagged as a -1600 favorite and hailed as America’s current boxing icon, was expected to triumph over Lamont Roach. The night was set up as a showcase for Davis: he’d strut through a packed arena he’d filled, deliver an electrifying knockout, and reinforce his superstar status against an opponent who was just there to play his part.
But, as often happens in sports and life, the script took an unexpected turn.
The fight crawled through six-and-a-half languid rounds, with Roach emerging as the surprisingly stronger and more energetic boxer. To those familiar with Davis’s style, this shouldn’t come as a shock; he often allows his opponents to get comfortable, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Roach, however, wasn’t content with just showing up. Unlike many who’ve faced Tank, Roach didn’t have the demeanor of someone surprised just to be competitive. As the WBA super featherweight champion moving up in class, he exuded an air of confidence and purpose—he didn’t just want to compete; he intended to win.
And let’s be honest, by most accounts, he should have.
The scorecards were somewhat equitable—a majority draw, with one judge favoring Davis 115-113 and the other two scoring it 114-114. Yet, the fairness of the result was marred by a questionable call earlier in the fight.
As the ninth round kicked off, Roach connected with a decent right and a less impactful left, prompting Davis to take a knee. Which, in boxing, typically signals a knockdown. Referee Steve Willis began the count but then, inexplicably, stopped. Perhaps because the star of the show couldn’t be seen yielding like that—not when it’s Tank Davis, a figure of such prominence.
By not officially acknowledging the knockdown, an opening for an upset was nullified, leaving us with a controversial draw instead of a Roach victory.
Post-fight, Davis claimed it was grease from his hair irritating his eye that caused his retreat to the corner. Willis, in a moment easily imagined in hindsight, might simply widen his eyes and shrug when asked about his decision.
Roach expressed his discontent, stating, “That should have been a knockdown. If it was, I win the fight. Saying grease got in his eye doesn’t matter if he takes a knee and the ref counts. It should be a knockdown.”
Exactly.
Once again, the narrative steers back to inherent biases in favor of maintaining the status quo.
It’s possible to read into this and suspect a concerted effort to keep the belt on the money-maker’s side. But the incident happened with nearly four rounds remaining, ample time for Davis to potentially turn the tables, as he has done before against fighters like Frank Martin and Ryan Garcia, among others.
This wasn’t a grand conspiracy to save Davis on Saturday night. It was more about a star receiving preferential treatment, a common practice in the industry.
Roach’s triumph was bittersweet—a moral victory proving skeptics wrong, myself included, about his capabilities against a top-tier fighter like Davis.
Yet, you can bet that PBC will capitalize on this mishap by scheduling a rematch. It’s what any promotional company would do. The rematch will be regarded as an opportunity for Roach to settle the score, which is a narrative likely to be spun by media and fans alike.
But the truth is, no one wants to leave a competition feeling they haven’t fully claimed what they deserved, even if a hefty rematch purse accompanies the disappointment.
All those watching in the Barclays Center or via Amazon Prime PPV saw a Davis whose disinterest met a Roach filled with focus, all while Steve Willis ensured no one strayed too far from the expected outcome.
Ultimately, what ensued was an unsatisfying night all around.
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