The recent WBA lightweight title bout between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach has sparked a wave of controversy, with boxing legend Mike Tyson openly expressing his opinion. Although the fight took place over a month ago, debate continues to swirl around the events of the controversial ninth round.
The moment in question involved Davis unexpectedly taking a knee after receiving a jab from Roach, then walking to his corner where a team member wiped his face with a towel. The lack of action from referee Steve Willis—who neither ruled it a knockdown nor issued a point deduction—has come under intense scrutiny.
The ninth round has become a flashpoint in the boxing world. After taking a jab from Roach, Davis dropped to one knee without an apparent injury. Even more surprising, he stood up and walked unimpeded to his corner for assistance—an action that, according to boxing rules, could have warranted disqualification.
Referee Steve Willis, however, took no disciplinary action. He did not rule the knee as a knockdown, nor did he penalize Davis for the corner interaction. Consequently, the round was not scored 10-8 in Roach’s favor, and Davis ultimately secured a majority draw—fueling calls for a rematch.
Gervonta Davis punches Lamont Roach Jr. during their bout for Davis’ WBA lightweight title at Barclays Center on March 01, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
What Mike Tyson really thinks about the controversial ninth round?
The controversy has drawn reactions from across the boxing community, most notably from heavyweight icon Mike Tyson. In an April 2 interview with Sports Illustrated, Tyson was asked whether a point should have been deducted for Davis’s actions.
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“Yes, the point should have been taken away,” Tyson said bluntly. “Regardless of what was in his eye, he took a knee—should’ve got the point taken away, whatever the rule called for.”
The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) later clarified that, under its rules, Davis’s action should have been scored as a knockdown. However, it emphasized that the final ruling ultimately rested with the referee.
Implications for boxing and the anticipated Rematch
The incident has reignited broader concerns about the enforcement of rules and the integrity of officiating in professional boxing. As speculation builds over a potential rematch, fans are eager to see whether the issues from the first encounter will be addressed. The rematch, should it happen, could offer both fighters a chance to settle the score—and for boxing to restore some of its bruised reputation.
