The bout between WBA lightweight champion, Gervonta 'Tank' Davis and Lamont Roach, continues to be the big story in boxing. What took place in round nine of that bout at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn, New York, will be debated forever.
While it was officially a majority draw, a good deal of the viewing public believes that Roach should've been the winner based on the non-knockdown in the ninth. The difference between a draw and beating the previously unblemished Davis, is probably worth millions of dollars for Roach, who came into this bout as a relatively unknown entity to casual fans.
On Tuesday a letter was sent from the representatives of Roach to the New York State Athletic Commission asking for a full review of the fight (or really what took transpired in the ninth frame) and to rule Roach the winner of that bout.
The letter which was sent by attorney, Greg Smith, to Matt Delaglio, the Executive Deputy Director, and the rest of the NYSAC read:
"Mr. Roach requests that the Commission review the video of the fight. Mr. Roach is confident that the Commission will agree with the millions who have seen the fight and determine that Mr. Roach is the true winner of the bout – either via TKO due to Mr. Davis removing himself from the Bout or being disqualified for carrying an illegal irritant into the ring, or via decision after scores have been adjusted to reflect the
knockdown. A careful review of the video and evenhanded application of the rules is required not just to do justice for Mr. Roach, but also to ensure the credibility of boxing as a sport and institution moving forward."
If there is ever a circumstance where a reversal is warranted it is this particular case. After all, we're not talking about a judgement call, but some clear violations of the Marquis of Queensbury rules that have been in place for years (the knee touching the canvas, turning your back on your opponent and getting help from the corner during a round). This goes far beyond disagreeing with how a particular round, or fight, is scored.
Esther Lin/PBC
However, there is almost no precedent for a reversal of a decision. Sure, there have been situations where a positive drug test is involved and a result is changed to a 'no-contest' (Ryan Garcia-Devin Haney last year comes to mind), but history is not on Roach's side, here.
Also, you wonder if the decision is changed, does this now create a slippery slope where boxers can now ask for reviews on decisions they disagree with based on certain technicalities? Of course, some will argue that it will set a terrible precedent if this decision isn't overturned.
Personally, I don't think the NYSAC will reverse the call, which is not to say that I don't believe Roach has a legitimate case. The majority of the public believes he got a raw deal this past weekend. My view is that the commission has to at least suspend referee Steve Willis for a period of time, or at least six months to a year or so. Or relegate him to undercard bouts for a period of time. There has to be some form of discipline and penalty doled out to someone who was involved in this. But that's just my opinion.
Esther Lin/PBC
Also, by having to settle for a draw, there really is no rematch clause to enforce. That only would've been the case if Davis would have lost. Yes, most of these are one-way streets. But many of these have built-in percentages for the B-sides. Well, in this case, given the furor, and the fact that this fight has gained so much traction in it's immediate aftermath, maybe, just maybe, Roach can get better financial terms for the second go-around than what was contracted, originally.
The reality is that with the quality of Tank-Roach I, and the surrounding attention this fight has received from outside the boxing world, the rematch will be highly anticipated, and with that will be a much bigger promotion should it happen in the summer. Perhaps that's a small consolation for Roach, there really is nothing quite like getting the win.
It will be interesting to see what the NYSAC rules, and what will happen thereafter.
3KR
This week on 'the 3 Knockdown Rule', Mario Lopez and I discuss Davis-Roach at length:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFYHdFn23Bo&t=2s
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