The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) has issued its verdict following the review of the controversial fight between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach, upholding the original result of a majority draw.
The decision comes after days of exhaustive analysis of the fight, which was marked by a ninth-round incident that sparked significant debate. Despite acknowledging that the correct decision would have been to count a knockdown when Davis touched the canvas with his knee, the NYSAC argued that the final decision rests with the discretion of the referee.
“Following an extensive after-the-fact review of the footage of the ninth round, [we determined] that the most appropriate call … would have been for the referee to determine that Mr. Davis’ knee contacting the canvas constituted a knockdown,” the commission’s ruling stated. “The determination of whether a knockdown occurred in that instance was within the discretion and authority of the referee.”
The incident in question occurred on March 1, when Davis touched the canvas with his knee after a series of punches from Roach. Referee Steve Willis initiated a count but stopped it midway, allowing Davis to return to his corner, where his team wiped his face before the fight continued.
Davis and Roach’s impact on careers
The NYSAC’s decision has significant implications for the careers of Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach. For Davis, the decision allows him to retain his title and maintain his undefeated record. For Roach, the decision represents a missed opportunity to secure a major win and claim the title from Davis. The key question is how this decision will impact future fights and the public’s perception of boxing as a whole.
Canelo Alvarez’s reaction
The decision not to count the knockdown became a major point of contention, with prominent figures such as Canelo Alvarez arguing that the result should have been reversed in Roach’s favor. “He take a knee. You need to lose like 10-8 that round, at least,” Alvarez said on Hot 97’s “Ebro in the Morning”. “And plus the corner go up and put a towel in [his] face, that’s disqualification, for sure. I’m talking about the rules.”