Davis escapes with a majority draw against Roach

Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) escaped with a lucky majority draw in the fight against Lamont Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) and kept his WBA World lightweight title.

Davis defended his title in front of soldout crowd of 19,250 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday night.

Fight was marred by a controversy in round nine. Davis inexplicably took a knew in ninth round after getting being hit by a jab, but referee Steve Wilkes decided not to score a knockdown for Roach. Davis suggested that reason was because grease from his hair has gotten into his eye. Had the knockdown been called, then Roach would have won the round 10:8 instead 10:9 for Davis that it was scored and also the fight would have been scored in his favor.

In the end two of the judges scored the fight as draw 114:114 and one scored in favor of Davis 115:113.

Davis suggested that he is ready for a rematch.

“Lamont is a great fighter,” Davis said after the fight. “He got the skills, like I said before, he got punching power. It was a lesson. Hopefully, we can run it back.”

In co-main event Alberto Puelo (24-0, 10 KOs) defeated Sandor Martin of Spain (42-4, 15 KOs) via split decision (113:115, 115:113 and 116:112) in the fight for WBC World super-lightweight title.

Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) won via unanimous decision (119:109, 119:109 and 120:108) against Jose Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KOs) and grabbed WBA World super-lightweight title.