Gervonta Davis punches Lamont Roach Jr. throughout their bout for Davis’ WBA light-weight title at Barclays Heart on March 01, 2025 in New York Metropolis. (Picture: AFP)
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Unbeaten American Gervonta Davis retained his World Boxing Affiliation light-weight world title with a majority draw towards battling challenger Lamont Roach in Brooklyn on Saturday.
Davis, who had gained 28 of his prior 30 fights by knockout, was taken to the restrict by WBA super-featherweight world champ Roach in an action-packed all-American bout on the Barclays Heart.
Two judges scored it 114-114 whereas a 3rd gave it to Davis 115-113 — however controversy erupted over the referee’s failure to name it a knockdown when the champion took a knee within the ninth spherical.
Davis, who then caught his head by way of the ropes to have his face toweled off, mentioned he stopped as a result of oil from his hair obtained in his eye.
He chided followers for booing when he provided that clarification within the ring after the bout.
“They love you after which they hate you,” he mentioned.
Roach, one of many few fighters who has examined Davis, took the struggle to the champion, weathering a stream of punishing blows and responding in sort.
“I’m probably the greatest fighters on this planet, man, and it confirmed tonight,” Roach mentioned within the ring.
“He in all probability wasn’t wailing when he mentioned grease obtained in his eye, however in case you voluntarily take a knee and the ref’s not counting that’s a knockdown.
“If that’s a knockdown, I win the struggle,” he added, calling for a rematch.
“I wish to run it again,” mentioned Roach, who fell to 25-1 with 2 drawn and 10 knockouts.
On the undercard, Dominican Alberto Puello beat Spain’s Sandor Martin by cut up resolution to retain his World Boxing Council tremendous light-weight world title.
After 12 rounds of relentless motion, two judges gave it to Puello by scores of 115-113 and 116-112 whereas the third noticed it 113-115 for Martin.
Puello remained unbeaten with 24 victories, 10 by knockout.
Martin fell to 42-3 with 15 knockouts, however he gave Puello all he may deal with within the early rounds, touchdown damaging punches to the physique.
Puello started to claw again within the second half of the bout, touchdown two large lefts within the eighth and dominating within the final two rounds.
