- The New York State Athletic Commission delivered its final verdict on the result
- Knockdown controversy surrounded Gervonta Davis’ draw with Lamont Roach
The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) has delivered its final verdict following the knockdown controversy which surrounded Gervonta Davis’ draw with Lamont Roach on March 1.
Davis retained his WBA lightweight title at the Barclays Center in New York, with the fight ending in a majority draw.
Two judges scored the bout 114-114, with another scoring it 115-113 for Davis.
In the ninth round Davis took a knee following a series of punches from Roach.
Although referee Steve Willis started to count he stopped doing so after he reached three.
Davis had gone to his corner complaining that he had something in his eye.
NYSAC has delivered its final verdict following the knockdown controversy which surrounded Gervonta Davis ‘ draw with Lamont Roach
Davis claimed he had something in his eye and got his corner to clean it during the ninth round
Referee Steve Willis did not penalise Davis, and the NYSAC has now claimed the instant replay technology was not working during the fight
After stopping the count, Willis allowed Davis to get his eye cleaned prior to restarting the contest.
Fans were left frustrated with the officiating, while Roach would have won the fight had a knockdown been given.
As reported by ESPN, NYSAC have upheld the result, which ended in a majority draw.
The commission’s ruling stated that ‘following an extensive after-the-fact review of the footage of the ninth round, that the most appropriate call… would have been for the referee to determine that Mr. Davis’ knee contacting the canvas constituted a knockdown.
‘However, the determination of whether a knockdown occurred in that instance was within the discretion and authority of the referee.’
It was also stated that if a knockdown had been called it would have been impossible to know if the final three rounds would have stayed the same.
NYSAC claimed that instant replay technology was not working during the fight.
After the fight Davis said that he took a knee because grease from a hair treatment burned his eyes.
