After a stunning majority draw in a lightweight title bout between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach Jr., the New York State Athletic Commission is citing a “technical issue” for the incorrect ruling of what should have been scored as a knockdown.
Davis purposefully fell to one knee during the ninth round Saturday at Barclays Center in Brooklyn so he could retreat to his corner and have his face wiped, later claiming that grease from his hair was burning his eyes. Referee Steve Willis, however, gave Davis a pass despite telling him that taking a knee “looks like a knockdown.”
“During the round in question, following the commission’s request for the replay video, there was a technical issue preventing the commission from receiving it within the allotted time for review,” a New York State Athletic Commission spokeswoman stated. “Therefore, the referee’s in-ring decision was relied upon, and the fight continued.”
Had the knockdown been scored correctly in the ninth round, the majority draw scoring would have been flipped to a victory for Roach and a new lightweight champion crowned.
“The commission is dedicated to preserving the integrity of combative sports and is committed to working with all promotions and production teams — on behalf of the athletes, officials, and fans — to ensure technical issues do not occur in the future that prevent the delivery of ringside instant replay feeds to the commission’s officials when needed,” the NYSAC statement added.
Davis was a massive -2000 favorite in the fight, bets that should have lost, as his record moved to 30-0-1.
The apology is all fine, but that referee mistake and ensuing “technical issue” cost Roach, who is also the current featherweight champion, one of the biggest underdog wins in boxing history and a second world title.
Boxing promoter Lou DiBella tells The Post that the inaction from the Commission is unacceptable and that they should overturn the decision.
“They should have acted and they shouldn’t even have needed replay; the rules are what they are and what occurred was obvious,” DiBella said. “The referee made a big mistake and it was compounded by the inaction of the Commission.”
There is some precedent for victories to be overturned in boxing, but those are usually for failed drug tests.
Boxing lightning-rod Ryan Garcia defeated Devin Haney at Barclays, but the New York State Athletic Commission overturned that victory due to a failed drug test for performance-enhancing drug ostarine.
Garcia even called for the decision to be overturned in a post on X.
“Nothing against Tank but since the commission switches my victory they should switch this victory for Roach,” he wrote.
DiBella continued that an overturned victory wouldn’t happen here, but that would be the right thing to do.
“No… but they should,” DiBella said when asked whether the NYSAC would give Roach the title.
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