Following the Gervonta Davis versus Lamont Roach Jr. boxing match, the referee, Steve Willis, has become the center of discussion due to his performance, which has drawn criticism from many.
In a recent event at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis successfully defended his WBA world lightweight title. However, the match concluded in a draw that many observers found questionable.
Leading up to the fight, many anticipated that Davis, aged 30, would decisively defeat Roach, 25-1-2 (with 10 KOs), especially considering Roach was moving up in weight class.
Contrary to expectations, Roach delivered a strong performance, pushing Davis, 30-0-1 (with 28 KOs), to the full distance of the fight.
While Roach expressed disappointment with the judges’ scoring, he also felt he should have been awarded a knockdown in the ninth round of the match.
Referee Willis initially started a count after Davis went down on one knee. However, he then reversed his decision, ruling it as a no knockdown incident.
Davis later explained that hair product from his braids had gotten into his eyes, causing a burning sensation that led him to go down.
Despite this explanation, Roach had landed a jab just before Davis took a knee, leading some to believe the outcome of the round, and potentially the fight, could be reconsidered.
However, the New York State Athletic Commission has stated that due to a technical problem, instant replay could not be used to review the controversial 10-8 round.
Adding to the controversy, opinions have emerged suggesting that referee Willis’s decision was “not unreasonable or unjustifiable.”
Regarding the possibility of a rematch, it has been suggested that it is now the responsibility of the promoters to organize it.
