Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach LIVE RESULT: Fight ends in major controversy with Tank left stunned – latest reaction
GERVONTA DAVIS' return to the ring was clouded with controversy as Tank received the first blemish of his illustrious career.
Davis and Lamont Roach fought to a majority draw in Brooklyn, meaning Tank retains his WBA lightweight title.
One huge talking point from the fight was a controversial decision made by referee Steve Willis in the ninth round.
In the opening minute, Davis dropped to a knee after Roach landed a jab on the champion, but the referee didn't see it as a knockdown, and Tank rose to his feet and headed for his corner to get his face wiped by his team.
It was later claimed by Davis that his antics were caused by hair product irritating his eye.
After the bout, both fighters called for a rematch, with Tank wanting to do it back in New York after the Barclays Center draw.
Follow our live blog below...
Paul sends Davis a warning
Jake Paul believes he would destroy Gervonta Davis if he met him in the ring.
He tweeted ahead of the fight: "Gervonta has my respect. Inside the ring, he comes to fight. One of the top five in the world right now. Outside the ring, he is standing on his own and representing America.
"I f*** with it. I would destroy him in the ring given the size. But I fuck with what he represents. Tuning in tonight."
Jake Paul reacts to Davis draw
Paul tweeted his immediate reaction to the draw before deleting his comment.
He wrote: “Roach showed out but I thought Tank edged it out, draw if you count the knee as a knockdown.
“He was more precise, bigger shots. But more than anything, I thought…easy f***in work. Tell me different.”
Stevenson offers up fight
Shakur Stevenson took to X last night to say he wants Lamont Roach next if he doesn’t rematch Gervonta Davis.
He also claimed he made $20k on the fight as he suggested a fight with Roach.
He said: "And if Lamont can’t get a rematch I got a big fight for him and a world title shot against me.. that’s my bro but we def can make something happen 🦾 good s***"
Fight purse
The official purse for the bout has not yet been revealed, but it has been reported that Davis could receive up to $10million, including PPV bonuses.
Roach was scheduled to get a $200k purse for his most recent bout, which took place in 2024 against Feargal McCrory, according to Sporty Salaries.
Roach was to earn a $200k guaranteed pay for the bout against McCrory, according to a similar story from NY Fights.
The article also noted that Roach Jr. earned $102,500 as his guaranteed money from his prior bout, which took place in 2023 versus Hector Luis Garcia.
Roach believes he should have won
Roach praised Davis' power after the fight but he believes he would have won had the judges counted the knock down.
“I ain’t the ref. But the rules do state if he voluntarily takes a knee, that’s an automatic count.
“I wasn’t relying on that, though. I thought I was winning anyway. But if they counted it, I would have won a majority decision.
“He got decent power. I ain’t gonna say it’s exaggerated. I told you, I got a chin – I ain’t going like that.
“But I see why he knocks people out. Once I took his best shot, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s time to roll.’”
Davis not happy with draw
Gervonta Davis is not happy with his failure to pick up a win, particularly as he felt his opponent was a little slow.
He said: “Nobody likes a draw.
“From a guy that gets knockouts and things like that, but it’s cool. I feel like if we fight again, I could do more – and I should have done more.
“He caught me with a good shot. But there were times in there I was thinking, ‘Damn, this guy is super slow.’ Well, not super slow, but slow.
“And I could have taken advantage of those moments. I think I was boxing too much in the beginning instead of pressing the issue.”
Davis 'fortunate to escape disqualification'
Gervonta Davis was fortunate to earn a draw against Lamont Roach on Saturday night, but the fighter could have been disqualified altogether according to one boxing referee.
Davis controversially took a knee that was not counted as a knock down - but it was another moment that could have meant a DQ.
A "veteran referee" told reporter Chris Mannix that Davis getting his face wiped by his corner during the match could have led to his disqualification from the fight.
Punch stats revealed
The punch statistics and scorecards have been posted for the fight between Gervonta 'Tank' Davis and Lamont Roach.
And it shows Roach came out on top, landing more total punches with 112 compared to Davis' 103.
Tank did however landed more power punches with 93 to 87 and was a lot more efficient, throwing 121 punches fewer than his opponent.
Davis big fear comes true?
Gervonta Davis said ahead of the fight that his main fear was being embarrassed in front of the world.
And although he maintained his unbeaten record, just, some will feel he has been embarrassed after the excuse he gave for taking a knee in the ninth round, with Davis claiming grease in his hair ran down into his eyes.
He said ahead of the bout: “My biggest fear is being embarrassed.
“Especially in front of all of these people worldwide. I ain’t got time for that. I’m not trying to go out and get my butt kicked bad. I don’t want to be embarrassed.”
Ryan Garcia responds to knock down
Tank rival Garcia believes Roach deserved the win, and labelled the failure to award him a knock down as "wild".
He said: “Lamont won that Not calling that knockdown is the most wild thing I ever seen in boxing, that type of stuff makes boxing look bad CRAZY S*** SEE YALL MAY 2nd.”
Davis hints at Paul call-out
Gervonta Davis appeared to suggest he was going to call out Jake Paul if he beat Lamont Roach.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul was ringside having surprisingly offered support to Davis this week despite their previous spats.
Davis in the past has called out Paul to a potential fight, despite their huge disparity in weight.
When asked at the post-fight press conference who he planned to invite into the ring if he won, he replied: "I think he was here.
"He came in my locker room."
The journalist suggested Shakur Stevenson to which he added: "He wasn't in my locker room."
When the journalist prompted Paul, he concluded: "Next question."
Crawford claims Roach was robbed
Terence Crawford led a furious reaction as he claimed Lamont Roach was robbed of victory.
He said: "Roach won and that should have been called a knock down. Let’s see what happens."
When the verdict was announced, he continued: "They robbed that boy and it’s crazy.
"I never seen someone take a knee and they don’t count it as a knock down. Must of forgot the rules for tonight."
Davis explains ninth round knee
Gervonta Davis has claimed he was not knocked down in the ninth round after taking a knee.
He instead suggested his eyes were burning as a result of grease that was put in his hair.
Davis said: "I just got my hair done two days ago and she put grease in my hair.
"When I was sweating and things like that, it burned my eyes."
The New York crowd were audibly unimpressed by Davis' explanation, to which he responded: "Damn, why y’all booing like I’m saying b*? They love you and then they hate you."
Two of the judges called the ninth round 10-9 in favour of Davis, scores which likely would have been altered should the knockdown have been called.
Davis responds to rematch calls
Davis has revealed he wants to face Roach again - but believes it won't be his next fight.
He said: “It probably won’t be this year.
“It’s definitely the one I want next. But it’s not going to be next.
“You might see it in a minute. You definitely might see it in a minute.”
Full report
Read it all here after a crazy night in New York
Kam on now
Rival George Kambosos was quick to throw shade Davis’ way.
He posted: “Ouch there goes the perfect record!!! That was a knockdown!! that ultimately made the difference!
“The dwarf had a go at me for my losses to Haney and Loma, time to look at yourself Wankie Tankie, great work Roach.
“Respect!! Tankie the JIG is up!”
O-Kur then
Regis Prograis reckons it's a Roach rematch or Shakur Stevenson next for Davis.
He posted: "Run it back. If not it’s time for Tank vs Shakur now!!"
Clarr to see
Claressa Shields has spoken out in defence of Davis.
She posted: "Not y’all saying Tank is overrated…. We not gonna do that. I believe he had an off night vs a great fighter in Roach.
"And the arguing with corner and grease in his hair didn’t help. Draw or not, Tank still a bad man. Be smooth tho."
Jake expectations
Fans are convinced Davis was preparing to challenge Jake Paul if he beat Roach - having teased a big post-fight callout.
Paul was ringside in Brooklyn to watch the draw and Davis was quizzed on who it was he was going to call out.
Asked if it was Jake Paul, Tank replied: "Next question."
What the ref
Former fighter Ishe Smith said ref Steve Willis should RETIRE after failing to call the knockdown.
He posted: "Steve Willis should never be allowed to ref another fight. There is no explanation for not calling that a knockdown.
"And the mini break in the corner is wild as well."
Davis explains knee controversy
Tank appears to admit that he did take a knee expecting a count after his eyes were burning due to hair product in his eyes.
He said: "I didn't wan to get caught while my eyes were burning. You can get knocked out like that so I'd rather take the knee.
"But I didn't know you could get disqualified for that. When he started counting I was like, what the hell?"
That's Ry-ild
Davis former opponent Ryan Garcia posted: "Lamont won that.
"Not calling that knockdown is the most wild thing I ever seen in boxing, that type of stuff makes boxing look bad."
Credit: Getty That's Ry-ild
Davis former opponent Ryan Garcia posted: "Lamont won that.
"Not calling that knockdown is the most wild thing I ever seen in boxing, that type of stuff makes boxing look bad."
Credit: Getty Shur thing
Davis rival Shakur Stevenson - the WBC lightweight champ - has offered Roach an alternative fight.
He posted: "If Lamont can’t get a rematch I got a big fight for him and a world title shot against me.. that’s my bro but we def can make something happen."
Haney aims dig
Devin Haney aimed a dig at Gervonta Davis asking where his rival's customary celebratory backflip was.
He posted: "I was waiting for the backflip…"