WBA likely to order Tank Davis vs Lamont Roach Immediate Rematch, to take place within 120 days

[FlatLine]

WBA Prez Poised To Pursue Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach Immediate Rematch

NEW YORK - WBA president Gilberto Mendoza told The Ring on Sunday that he is poised to pursue a Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach rematch following the controversial Round 9 of their majority draw Saturday evening.
Davis, the WBA lightweight champion, was part of a bizarre scene where he absorbed a few punches from Roach in Round 9 before he took a knee. Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) then proceeded to his corner where one of his cornermen wiped his face with a towel.
Davis, 30, later said that a hair treatment with his braids led to grease that “burnt my eyes.”
Under the unified rules, when a boxer’s knee touches the canvas following a punch - even if the impact of the shot didn’t necessarily cause the action - it is considered a knockdown. It’s also illegal for a fighter to call timeout (only the referee can halt the action). Furthermore, a fighter’s corner can’t wipe his face with a towel at any time during the round.

Despite all this, referee Steve Willis only admonished Davis and didn’t rule a knockdown nor deduct a point. The veteran referee’s failure to do so was the difference on the scorecards. If Willis had correctly ruled a knockdown, Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) would have pulled off the upset on the scorecards.
Davis, The Ring’s No. 8 pound-for-pound boxer, said at the post-fight news conference that while he welcomed a rematch, he didn’t expect it to be next. But Mendoza could order an immediate return encounter.

“I think it's not going to be no doubt about having a rematch on this,” Mendoza said. “ … think this supersedes the public perception of boxing involved here with a huge star for the sport and we need to send a strong message out there. … It was a very controversial night.”
Mendoza will likely make a motion for the WBA Championships Committee to vote on an immediate rematch. Roach, who was a major underdog, is the WBA junior lightweight champion. If a rematch is formally ordered, rules mandate the fight would take place within 120 days. Davis can exercise his contractual right to an immediate rematch because he didn’t win.

“Maybe [Willis] saw a competitive fight,” Mendoza said. “Maybe he saw it wasn't a punch, but how can you understand how he put the knee on the canvas?”
Still, it’s curious that instant replay wasn’t utilized when it is available in New York.
Terence Crawford observed on X after the fight that Floyd Mayweather once took a knee after injuring his hand against Carlos Hernandez in 2001 and it was correctly ruled a knockdown.
Now, Roach is left to wonder what could have been and hope he will have a chance at justice in an immediate rematch.

[famicommander]

Davis gonna duck the hell outta this. Short term "retirement" incoming.

[elfag]

this matchup was so uninteresting i forgot it was even last weekend and didnt watch it, just saw the articles today


wtf is this tank called his own time out? lol. ali fought liston with crap in his eyes and paulie got a hair cut inbetween rounds when his hair got in the way.


tank is such a *****, sounds like he was hurt or gassed and wanted to buy time

[MulaKO]

Well apparently Tank told Roach in the ring Saturday that he wouldn’t get the rematch and then made it official Sunday morning

We all know Tank doesn’t give a fugh about the belt so I wouldn’t be holding my breath

[eco1]

No, what I want to see is team Roach asking the commission for the win.

They won the fight.

[IceTrayDaGang]

making comments about being greater than floyd already didnt turn out too well... this is why young fighters today need to stop comparing themselves with fighters from the past.

[PRINCEKOOL]

You have to admit? That Lamont Roach, skill for skill appeared like the more technically sound, and fundamentally solid fighter 'I was really impressed with his composure, and just the way he held his stance throughout the entire fight'.

I wonder? I watched a recent interview were Pauli Malignaggi stated 'We don't really know if Tank Davis, can win in a tough fight. Davis's power has got him out of a lot of trouble at times in his career. But sometimes punching power, can cover up underlying defences in a fighter's game'.

Lamont Roach withstood the power of Gervonta Tank Davis very well 'And he turned the fight into a skill for skill, boxing match. Both fighters were very closely competitive, but? You could see that Tank Davis was struggling to really get on top and dominate in the fight'.

Note: In comparison many times in Floyd Mayweather Junior's career 'He was in a position, were? He did not quite have to power to turn the fight around in an instant. The only way he was going to win, was by tactically and physiologically completely overhauling his opponent's. To win fights in this manner, when you really think about it? Is more difficult and intricate than just blasting your opponent out. It takes a higher level of craftsmanship, skill and sometimes even resolve'.

Gervonta Tank Davis for the first time in his career, in a top level fight 'Was in that same position that Floyd Mayweather Junior was in against, Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Zab Judah, Jose Luis Castillo, Marcos Maidana, Manny Pacquiao'. None of those fighters were just going to fall down and disappear after showing a few rounds of resistance, Floyd Mayweather Junior had to overhaul those fighters with straight up game'.

To conclude: There definitively has to be a rematch 'The second fight, will now be a genuine big boxing event. I originally before fight, expected Tank Davis to win by knockout. After Lamont Roach, showed some resistance for a few rounds. So, I was very impressed with the fight Lamont Roach fought'.

I want to see the rematch 'Lamont Roach appeared to be quite reserved during the build up to the first fight 'He clearly has a lot of respect of Gervonta Tank Davis. I don't sense any real hostility between the two fighters, but? I was still intrigued, which shows you that it was a good fight'.

The event and fight was better than many people would have anticipated. Many people before the fight were criticizing Gervonta Tank Davis's choice of opposition, in fighting Lamont Roach. But sometimes this is how story lines, rivalries and themes are created'.

There needs to be an immediate rematch 'I believe right now there is more demand and intrigue for Lamont Roach vs Gervonta Tank Davis II, than Stevenson vs Tank Davis'.

Gervonta Tank Davis has to win the rematch, beyond doubt 'To solidify himself as the number 1 fighter in the 135 pound Division' etc,

[The Big Dunn]

this matchup was so uninteresting i forgot it was even last weekend and didnt watch it, just saw the articles today


wtf is this tank called his own time out? lol. ali fought liston with crap in his eyes and paulie got a hair cut inbetween rounds when his hair got in the way.


tank is such a *****, sounds like he was hurt or gassed and wanted to buy time

Your comments show what is wrong with the current boxing fan.

Lamont Roach is a world champion moving up to try and win a title in a fight against one of the better boxers in the sport. How is that uninteresting?

I get- you hate tank so you lower and criticize anyone he fights. That is so weak.

ESPN bet, who has a vested interest in PBC not doing well, has the odds at a ridiculous -$1600 for Tank, which makes this fight seem like a blowout when Roach is a much better boxer than that.

Cool if you don’t watch it but to say this kind of fight was uninteresting is complete BS.

Ad to the thread- I hope they do order a rematch. Would love to see this fight again. Tank better be ready or he will surely lose.

[Joseph]

Cool if you don’t watch it but to say this kind of fight was uninteresting is complete BS.

I definitely underestimated Roach. I knew he was a decent fighter but thought the weight disparity would ultimately cost him. My only real interest going in was the hope that this would be the one guy who truly came to win. And he did. I developed more interest around the fifth round when it was clear Roach had no issues with the weight.

[The Big Dunn]

I definitely underestimated Roach. I knew he was a decent fighter but thought the weight disparity would ultimately cost him. My only real interest going in was the hope that this would be the one guy who truly came to win. And he did. I developed more interest around the fifth round when it was clear Roach had no issues with the weight.

Ok underestimating him is not a big issue. Human nature.

The bigger issue for me is those that lowered him solely because they hate Tank.

My other issue is saying this kind of fight is “uninteresting “. Since when is a 25-1-1 champion moving up to fight an undefeated champion that is a PPV star that can put 19k fans in an arena uninteresting?

That kind of logic from a diehard fan is what hurts the sport imo.