Having teased retirement prior to facing Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-2, 10 KO’s), Gervonta Davis (29-0-1, 27 KO’s) has likely stalled plans after suffering a majority decision (MD) draw against Roach. The two headlined a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on Saturday, March 1st.

Preceding the fight had been questions surrounding the choice of Lamont Roach as an opponent. Roach, a WBA super featherweight (130 lbs) champion since 2023, was not a genuine lightweight (135 lbs) prior to stepping into the ring against Davis and question marks had surrounded the matchmaking with Davis’ team seemingly making no attempts to unify other than a failed bid to face IBF lightweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko.

As such, Davis’ defense of his WBA 135 pound title against Roach did not realistically meet the standards of a modern champion who tend to either unify, or face a mandatory or top contender. Davis’ reluctance to step into the ring against those considered his peers ― the likes of WBC champion Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KO’s) and former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney (31-0, 15 KO’s) ― further illustrated Davis’ clear intent to chart his own course in boxing; one that determined his status through popularity rather than the competition he faced.

The match between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach would therefore become a great surprise to many viewers and onlookers as the two would fight to a controversial majority decision draw ― a result that had been least expected.

During the bout, it became evident that there was likely a reason for Davis stooping to what many would consider lesser opposition as he struggled heavily against Roach who opted for a balanced approach. Known for being a skilled fighter, Roach’s gameplan was perfectly geared to taking out Davis’ strengths ― mainly his tendency to give his opponent some ground in a bid to lure them in a trap where they would eventually fall victim to his right hand that has allowed Gervonta Davis to net a knockout (KO) ratio of over 90%.

However, Roach’s gameplan was too well-developed to allow Davis any momentum. Roach’s approach relied on him balancing his skillset, knowing when to counterattack, when to pressure and when to defend, which posed multiple problems to Davis who ― while not lacking for skills himself ― has often veered towards a counterattacking style.

Used to fighting opponents that come forward and walk into Davis’ left or right hands, Gervonta Davis found only moderate success with his counters as Roach remained aware of Davis’ style and mustered up the adequate defensive fundamentals to stifle Davis’ attempts to put him out. As a result, while Davis had often benefitted from wearing his opponents as he countered their moves, allowing him to press for action later on, Roach did not tire like Davis’ previous opponents and further mitigated most of Davis’ attacks through his defense.

Notably, Roach was not untouchable but in turn he proved Davis was not either as his pressure did enough to open holes in Davis’ defense. While Davis is known as a fundamentally-sound fighter when it comes to defense, Roach’s gameplan to remain aware of Davis’ counters made it difficult for the WBA lightweight champion to assert himself.

The most glaring factor that led to the draw was Davis’ inability to assert himself and while looking dangerous on offense, he failed to trouble Roach enough to stop his own opponent from launching his own attacks. Proponents of a win for Roach will also refer to the clear knockdown that Davis suffered in the 9th round where he clearly dropped to one knee after a jab seemed to rattle him for but a moment. While more of a flash knockdown, every rule of boxing signifies a fighter a knockdown being counted when a fighter drops to at least one knee.

However, with Davis being the star of the show, the PBC card showed its corruption as the legitimate knockdown that Davis suffered was not counted. Based on the scorecards, had this knockdown been counted then Davis would have faced a certain loss.

Furthermore, Lamont Roach was the more active fighter, throwing more punches overall and ― as a result of his accuracy ― managing to land slightly more. Gervonta Davis was the more efficient fighter when it comes to the percentages of landed punches , but he failed to make an impact when it came to offense due to Roach’s defense.

The fight was highly entertaining as a result, with Davis eventually stepping up on the gas pedal to attempt to hurt Roach but the challenger’s fundamentals allowed him to avoid incurring a lot of damage. At the same time, Davis’ highly-lauded power seemed absent as his usual approach seemed ineffective against Roach.

The two were even on many occasions, making for a tight battle that was difficult to call a winner for, though arguably Lamont Roach was the better fighter on the night having exemplified his own surprising ability due to his work rate, balanced approach, and effectiveness in disrupting Davis’ counterattacks.

Following the customary 12 rounds of their title fight, the result was announced as a MD draw, with two judges scoring it an even fight with 114-114 scores, while one judge only narrowly scored it in favor of Gervonta Davis with a 115-113 score.

With a draw now staining Davis’ record against an opponent he had been expected to beat easily, his intention to retire seem slim now with a rematch now expected to allow both fighters to set things right. In the case of Gervonta Davis, however, he has faced a steep decline in his own reputation after drawing with an opponent that had been moved from a lower weight class and made the fight too evenly-sided for Davis to be able to claim a clear victory.

Undercard Fights:

• The WBA super lightweight (140 lbs) title has against switched hands as WBA champion Jose “Rayo” Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KO’s) stumbled into a unanimous decision (UD) loss to Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KO’s).
  
  With Valenzuela defending his title for the first time since winning it last year, Russell caused a steep upset in his victory over the defending champion as his strength and work rate proved to be key factors in making it a relatively easy win. Valenzuela opted for a more cautious approach which appeared to play right into the hands of Russell whose power has seen him net a KO ratio of almost 95%.
  
  Despite Rayo Valenzuela being regarded as the more skilled fighter, his defensive shortcomings had always been a detriment and Gary Antuanne Russell seems to have found the ways to exploit these weaknesses. While appearing reckless in certain instances, Russell’s offense was stifling and Valenzuela found himself rocked several during the fights as Russell’s accuracy and speed had surprisingly developed to allow him to become a virtual juggernaut in the ring.
  
  With Russell clearly taking most of the rounds through his activity, the judges eventually ruled him the winner by unanimous decision through scores of 119-109 twice, and 120-108 ― with the latter score indicating he had won all of the 12 rounds.
  
  As a result, Russell is now the new WBA super lightweight champion and a potential threat in the division when it comes to dethroning the rest of the champions in his weight class. Further lighting up the division might be a potential rematch between Russell and WBC champion Alberto Puello to make for an intriguing unification match-up.
  

• In the same 140-pound division, WBC champion Alberto Puello (24-0, 10 KO’s) from the Dominican Republic disappointed slightly as he fought himself in a life and death battle with Spanish challenger Sandor Martin (42-4, 15 KO’s). Martin, who is best known for controversially losing to Teofimo Lopez in 2022, came with the intention to outbox and outsmart Puello who, despite his skill, proved to have plenty of weak spots in facing pure boxers.
  
  Like the main event, their fight would be close-knit, with neither fighter outright dominating. It was further clash of styles, with Puello adopting a style focused on controlled pressure while Martin continued to attempt to box Puello from the outside while solidifying his own defense. While Martin appeared to more efficient fighter, Puello did prove his own ability as his jabs largely allowed him to stay in the fight as he attempted to overcome and outpace Martin.
  
  However, Martin’s ring IQ and boxing style was well-suited to helping him outbox and counter Puello who struggled in many phases but maintained a commendable work rate to keep the fight evenly-sided.
  
  The result eventually culminated in a split-decision (SD) win for Alberto Puello. As with Martin’s fight with Lopez, this result might be considered controversial as the Spanish contender’s efforts in the ring saw his efficiency scale up to the point it might have warranted a victory ― albeit a narrow one.
  
  Puello’s victory now potentially sets up a rematch with new WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell.
  

• Two former world champions that had once upon a time faced each other appeared on the same card as Jarrett Hurd (25-4-1, 17 KO’s) and Julien Williams (29-5-1, 17 KO’s) sought and failed to recoup a semblance of what they had been.
  
  Hurd, fighting at middleweight (160 lbs) lost by split-decision (SD) in his fight against Venezuelan contender Johan Gonzalez (36-4, 34 KO’s) who deservedly won as he outworked Hurd over 10 rounds.
  
  Williams, fighting at super welterweight (154 lbs), also failed in his bid to climb up the rankings as Cuban opponent Yoenis Tellez (10-0, 7 KO’s) sharply outboxed him over the 12 rounds of their fight to win quite dominantly by unanimous decision (UD).
  
  For both former champions, it will be a time of reflection as their championship days seem to have waned and highlighted their shortcomings that now cast doubt on their title winning days and the type of competition they faced.