Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. fought to a majority draw last Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The WBA lightweight title bout ended with scores of 115-113, 114-114, and 114-114, but the result has sparked controversy.
The New York State Athletic Commission opened an investigation into the fight's outcome. The main point of contention? A moment in the ninth round when Davis kneeled after Roach landed a jab to his eye.
Jeff Mayweather, Floyd Mayweather's uncle and a former boxer himself, weighed in on the situation. On The Mayweather Channel, the 60-year-old analyst said:
"If we go by the rules of boxing, it was a knockdown. That's what they're doing. They're boxing, so yes, it's supposed to be counted as a knockdown."
Mayweather explained that while the blow wasn't hard enough for a knockout, Davis' action should have gotten him penalized. He argued that the ninth round should have been scored 10-8, which would have changed the result from a majority draw.
Davis, known as "Tank," claimed that grease got in his eye, causing him to kneel and approach his corner for help. Roach, on the other hand, demanded victory after the fight, insisting that the uncounted knockdown could have swung the result in his favor.
The controversy has put a spotlight on boxing rules and their application. It's left fans and experts alike debating whether Davis' kneel should have been counted as a knockdown, potentially changing the outcome of the championship bout.
As the investigation continues, the boxing world waits to see if the New York State Athletic Commission will take any action or if the majority draw result will stand.
