GERVONTA DAVIS’ controversial majority draw with Lamont Roach could be overturned following a “technical issue.”
Unbeaten Tank, 30, took a voluntary knee during the ninth round of the scrappy fight in New York on Saturday.
Veteran boxing referee Steve Willis began the count, but then inexplicably stopped.
As such, no knockdown was ruled in Roach’s favour – which would have altered the outcome on the cards.
One judge scored the fight 115-113 for Davis, with the other two 114-114.
Roach raged: “If you voluntarily take a knee and the ref’s not counting, that’s a knockdown.
READ MORE ON BOXING
“If that’s a knockdown, I win the fight.”
The New York State Athletic Commission have now confirmed they are reviewing the fight.
They claim tech issues prevented instant replays from being used during the contentious ninth round.
A statement read: “During the round in question, following the commission’s request for the replay video, there was a technical issue preventing the commission from receiving it within the allotted time to review.
Most read in Boxing
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
“Therefore, the referee’s in-ring decision was relied upon and the fight continued.
“The commission is dedicated to preserving the integrity of combative sports and is committed to working with all promotions and production teams — on behalf of the athletes, officials, and fans – to ensure technical issues do not occur in the future that prevent the delivery of ringside instant replay feeds to the commission’s officials when needed.”
There is a possibility that Willis’ call could be retroactively overturned, per Ring Magazine.
Following the contest, Davis claims he took a knee because grease from his hair had seeped into his eye.
He said to boos from the crowd: “I just got my hair done two days ago and she put grease in my s***.
“So the s*** was like sweating and things like that and the grease coming in my my face.
“It burned my eyes type s***, yeah. Damn, why y’all booing like I’m saying bulls***?
“Like, this is real facts. Come on, man. Look at my hair, I just got my s*** done.
“But it’s all cool, man. You know how it get. They love you, then they hate you. Turn around then they love you again.”
Despite Davis’ reasoning, four-weight world champion Terence Crawford believes Roach was “robbed”.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
He wrote on X: “Roach won and that should have been called a knockdown.
“I [have] never seen someone take a knee and they don’t count it as a knockdown.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
