Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis might still be technically undefeated but his stock has never been lower, says former IBF, WBC and WBO lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr.
Davis emerged with a majority draw in last weekend’s bout with Roach, retaining both his unbeaten record and his WBA lightweight title — but not before a hugely controversial moment in the ninth round when Davis dropped to one knee after sustaining a blow from Roach. Under boxing’s accepted ruleset, if a fighter’s knee or gloves touches the canvas it should be ruled a knockdown and the fighter in question must have a point deducted.
However, despite initially starting a count referee Steve Willis stopped an issued a warning to Davis. The fighter later explained that he was temporarily impacted by ‘grease’ which got into his eye following a recent hairstyling. Had a point been deducted, Davis would have lost the bout under the scorecards that we announced following the conclusion of the contest.
“That’s a knockdown,” Kambosos Jr told Fight Hype of the ninth round incident. “You can’t just in the middle of the fight decide to take a knee and got to your corner to get your face wiped. “Every time I’ve been split open, literally every fight, I should be able to do the same and get away with it. It’s not fair.
“I think every judge in that round gave it a 10-9 to Tank as well I believe. I’m not sure, that’s what I heard. That and a 10-8 round, Lamont in the clear winner. He missed out on millions.
“He’s just had a draw and lost a lot of stock,” he added of Tank. “What does he have to do? Rebuild his career.”
