The fight turned out to be a closely contested and entertaining affair. In the end, the judges scored it a majority draw, allowing Davis to keep his title. But the result didn't come without controversy.
In the ninth round, Davis took a knee after Roach landed a jab. Referee Steve Willis didn't rule it as an official knockdown, a decision that sparked outrage from Roach's team. This missed call potentially cost Roach the victory and the title.
After the fight, Roach spoke to Mill City Boxing about his experience in the ring with Davis. When asked if Davis was the hardest puncher he'd faced, Roach had a surprising answer.
"Jonathan Oquendo, he's from Puerto Rico, bro he got bricks in his hands, he punched hard I ain't gonna lie, he's a hard hitting motherf—-r," Roach said. He added that Davis "can punch" but didn't rate him as the hardest hitter he's faced.
The 29-year-old fighter from Washington, D.C., known as "The Reaper," will get another shot at Davis soon. Both fighters have reportedly signed for a rematch expected to take place on August 16 in Las Vegas, though the event hasn't been officially announced yet.
Roach will look to become the first boxer to defeat the unbeaten Davis and capture a world title for the second time in his career. It's a tall order, but after their first encounter, Roach has shown he's up for the challenge.
The first fight ended with Davis retaining his title, but the rematch promises to be another exciting battle between these two talented fighters.