Gervonta Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) and Lamont Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) led to a means few had predicted.
Whereas one choose the struggle 115-113 for Davis, the opposite two noticed it 114-114, leading to a majority draw. With the outcome, Davis stays the WBA light-weight world champion. This was his second defence of the title after being promoted to full titlist.
The struggle headlined a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card on the Barclays Heart in New York Metropolis. Struggle followers around the globe have been capable of catch the motion as a pay-per-view (PPV) on both Prime Video or PPV.com.
Shock Choice in Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Conflict
Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Struggle Recap
The opening spherical was a quiet one as neither fighter was keen to commit a lot offensively. This continued into the next rounds. Whereas Roach would slowly press ahead, Davis was content material with shifting off of his again foot. The reigning tremendous featherweight champion was unable to throw many punches on account of “Tank’s” motion across the ring. Nonetheless, Davis was additionally not throwing a lot within the first half of the competition, leading to pretty shut rounds.
The fifth spherical noticed each fighters mouth off at one another. It additionally marked a turning level within the struggle the place each males began to extend their output. Spherical seven noticed Roach have larger success in touchdown his punches and this was one thing that continued to the ultimate bell. His bodywork specifically stood out. Within the eighth, a counter proper from Roach very briefly rocked Davis, however the Baltimore native took the punch and continued exchanging.
.@Gervontaa turns it on in RD6, concentrating on the physique of Roach and letting him learn about it. #TankRoach | LIVE NOW on PBC PPV on @PrimeVideo: https://t.co/qlhPUvMw05 pic.twitter.com/oE5wJgzSRz
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) March 2, 2025
There was a weird second in spherical 9 the place Davis took a knee and went to his nook to have his face wiped. This was not dominated a knockdown and the struggle was allowed to proceed after a short pause. Nonetheless, a jab had been landed earlier than Davis took a knee.
Whereas Davis had success touchdown his highly effective left hand, it was Roach who landed extra within the second half of the competition. The light-weight champion’s footwork and left hand was nonetheless giving Roach some points, however “The Reaper” was beginning to determine his opponent and ended the struggle sturdy. Regardless of their greatest efforts, two of the judges had the struggle a draw, a call neither agreed with.
.@Gervontaa and @Oneof1x promised fireworks and also you’re getting them! Lets boogie!#TankRoach | LIVE NOW on PBC PPV on @PrimeVideo: https://t.co/qlhPUvMw05 pic.twitter.com/aOSD8v7NTC
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) March 2, 2025
Publish-fight Interview
Gervonta Davis
“I feel I pulled it off with the final three rounds,” mentioned Davis. “For positive I did. I pulled it off within the final three rounds. I used to be catching him with clear photographs. I really feel like I used to be breaking him down because the rounds gone on, however he stored coming so I didn’t wish to make no errors so I stored cautious.”
“Nah [I wasn’t surprised at how competitive it was]. To be trustworthy, I actually made it aggressive, for actual, to be trustworthy. However, for positive, Lamont [Roach] is a good fighter. He received the talents like I mentioned earlier than. He received punching energy. It was a lesson. Shout out to Lamont Roach and his entire group, man. Hopefully we will run it again, for positive. Carry it again to New York. Let’s do it once more. Let’s have a rematch again in New York. Let’s do it once more, child.”
Davis additionally claimed on this interview that product in his hair fell into his eye and made him take knee in spherical 9.
Lamont Roach
“This on a regular basis for me,” mentioned Roach after the struggle.
“I ain’t gonna lie. I’m constructed like this. I’ve been lower like this. I’ve been certainly one of them ones. You already know, I got here out right here to indicate. I’m just a bit disillusioned within the resolution. I assumed I pulled it out…Gervonta [Davis] is a good fighter. I thank him for the chance to indicate the world, to all of the people who was doubting me, all of the people who was speaking shit, all of the faux boxing media, all of that shit. That shit I flipped the other way up. Although I didn’t win tonight, I assumed I did, but it surely’s a win for me in my e-book. However, we not happy with that. We’d like an actual W.”
Gary Antuanne Russell Outclasses José Valenzuela
Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) proved to be an excessive amount of for José Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KOs).
Scores for his or her conflict have been 120-108 and 119-109 (x2). With the victory, Russell is now the WBA tremendous light-weight world champion. Valenzuela entered the struggle because the reigning champion and was making his first defence since defeating Isaac Cruz.
Early on, Russell established himself because the busier fighter and fought at a tempo that brought on points for his opponent. Whereas Valenzuela did the whole lot he may to get an higher hand, he was at all times second greatest. The reigning world champion merely had nothing for Russell, who outworked him all struggle.
There have been occasions all through the bout the place the referee, Valenzuela’s nook and ringside physicians may have ended proceedings, but it surely by no means occurred. In spherical 9, Russell almost did cease his opponent, touchdown a number of onerous photographs and pushing him again. Nonetheless, Valenzuela was capable of stay on his ft and make it out the spherical.
Russell continued to place a beating on Valenzuela until the ultimate bell. His velocity and work fee have been merely an excessive amount of. It was no shock when the judges had him successful broad on the scorecards ultimately.
BEAST MODE by @AntuanneRussell 💪. #RayoRussell#TankRoach | LIVE NOW on PBC PPV on @PrimeVideo: https://t.co/qlhPUvN3PD pic.twitter.com/MB5zfdI4qc
— Premier Boxing Champions (@premierboxing) March 2, 2025
Take a look at our recap for the rest of the undercard which included a cut up resolution in a WBC tremendous light-weight world title conflict between Alberto Puello and Sandor Martín.