WBA light-weight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs) retained his title with a 12-round majority draw towards WBA Tremendous Featherweight World Champion Lamont “The Reaper” Roach (25-1-2, 10 KOs) in the principle occasion of a PBC Pay-Per-View occasion on Prime Video Saturday evening from Barclays Heart in Brooklyn.
In a chippy, trash-talking affair between two longtime mates, 30-year-old southpaw Davis obtained out to an early lead on the judges’ scorecards after six after which survived a livid rally from 29-year-old Roach within the second half of the tense battle.
Davis might by no means land any of his customary fight-changing bombs towards his former beginner rival and located himself taking extra punches than ever earlier than in his profession, because the decided Roach discovered repeated success, particularly with the counter proper hand.
In a hotly contested battle, the combatants had been separated by three or much less landed punches in 9 of the twelve rounds though Roach threw 121 extra punches than Davis. Davis landed 6 extra energy punches than Roach, whereas Roach landed 15 extra jabs than Davis.
There was a controversial second in spherical 9 when Davis ate a jab after which voluntarily took a knee earlier than going to his nook to have grease wiped from his eye. Had that voluntary knee been dominated a knockdown, two of the judges’ scorecards would have swung Roach’s approach.
Roach out-threw and barely out-landed Davis, and closed the battle sturdy, out-landing Davis 16-9 within the closing stanza. One decide scored the battle 115-113 for Davis, whereas the opposite two turned in similar 114-114 scorecards.
After the compelling battle, each combatants expressed a need for a rematch.
“I simply obtained my hair achieved two days in the past and she or he put grease in my shit. So, the grease, whenever you sweat, it was coming into my face,” defined Davis. “I feel I pulled it out within the final three rounds for certain. I used to be catching him with some clear photographs. I really feel I used to be breaking him down because the rounds had been occurring, however he saved coming so I didn’t wish to make errors, and I saved it cautious.”
Requested why the battle was so aggressive, Davis defined, “I made it aggressive to be sincere. For certain, Lamont is a good fighter. He obtained the talents like I mentioned earlier than and the punching energy. It was a lesson discovered. Shout out to Lamont Roach and his complete group. Hopefully we will run it again in New York. If not, all the perfect to Lamont Roach and his complete group.”
“I’m somewhat disillusioned within the choice,” mentioned Roach after the battle. “I believed I pulled it out. That’s what two expert fighters do, go in there and exhibit their crafts. I undoubtedly thought I received however we will run it again.”
Roach mentioned regardless of being the underdog, he wasn’t shocked that a lot of the motion appeared to be going his approach. “That is day-after-day for me. I ain’t gonna lie. I’m lower like this. I’ve been one of many ones, and I got here out right here and confirmed it. Gervonta is a good fighter. I thank him for the chance to indicate all of the those that had been doubting me, all of the faux boxing media and followers speaking shit. The script obtained flipped the wrong way up. Despite the fact that I didn’t win tonight, I believed I did, nevertheless it’s a win for me in my guide, however we’re not happy with that. We’d like an actual W.”
Roach additionally mentioned the controversial non-knockdown within the ninth spherical ought to have been dominated otherwise. “It ought to have been a knockdown. If that was knockdown, I win the battle. He’s saying grease obtained in his eye, but when he takes a knee and the ref begins counting, it needs to be a knockdown. It’s what it’s. I’m not banking on that knockdown to win. I simply thought I pulled it out. I wish to run it again for certain. I hope you all loved your self. Thanks for loving me and thanks for hating me. I’ll be again on the grand stage once more, the place I belong.”
After the battle, it was revealed that Roach wanted to win the ultimate spherical on two judges’ playing cards to tug out the bulk draw.
Saturday evening’s Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Premier Boxing Champions occasion at Barclays Heart has not solely set the all-time attendance report within the enviornment’s historical past however has ALSO turn out to be the second-highest grossing occasion of all time for the Brooklyn venue. Davis additionally broke his attendance report for a boxing occasion at Barclays Heart, with a sold-out crowd of 19,250, eclipsing his earlier report set in Might 2022 when he scored a high-light reel KO of Rolando Romero.
Within the co-main occasion, Gary Antuanne Russell (18-1, 17 KOs) cruised to a unanimous 12-round choice to win his first world championship by dethroning now-former WBA Tremendous Light-weight World Champion José “Rayo” Valenzuela (14-3, 9 KOs).
The 28-year-old Russell admitted to feeling offended by Valenzuela’s pre-fight competition that he was “nothing particular,” and, as promised, got here out firing from the opening bell with velocity, energy in each arms and an unrelenting stress, which allowed him to dominate the motion whereas successfully muting Valenzuela’s traditional offensive fireworks in return.
After 5 clear rounds for Russell to start the motion, Valenzuela’s nook implored him to select up the aggression after spherical six, however the 25-year-old’s try to provoke extra exchanges left him briefly surprised by an uppercut and follow-up hook from Russell late in spherical seven.
A left-right mixture appeared to stun Valenzuela once more in spherical eight and lumped up his proper eye.
Russell turned up his aggression in spherical 9, as he battered Valenzuela across the ring with each arms all through the stanza and outlanded him 20-4 in energy punches. The ringside doctor elected to take a look on the champion earlier than the beginning of spherical 10 and once more earlier than rounds 11 and 12.
Valenzuela’s coach, Robert Garcia, implored him to not come out for the ultimate spherical, however the now-former champion refused. To his credit score, Valenzuela was in a position to ship Russell’s mouthpiece flying with a hook within the closing body.
Russell overwhelmed Valenzuela, throwing 957 punches and touchdown 252. Russell averaged 80 punches thrown and 21 punches landed per spherical. Valenzuela averaged 37 and 11 respectively. Valenzuela was by no means within the battle as mirrored by the judges’ scores: 119-109, 119-109, and 120-108- all for Russell.
“I wish to thank god,” mentioned Russell, post-fight. “It is a small steppingstone. I’m going for the remainder of the belts. I like y’all for supporting us. Thanks for making this enviornment a grand enviornment. I did it for DC and my household. We onto the subsequent!”
When requested in regards to the secret of his success, Russell mentioned, “A rule of thumb in my occupation is it’s important to comply with directions. My brother all the time advised me, the distinction between nice and good is inches or centimeters and the power to provide, as a result of that what it takes.”
Alluding to being known as nothing particular, Russell claimed the perceived sleight added extra gasoline to the fireplace. “It motivated me a hell of loads,” he mentioned. “On this sport, it’s important to be dominant. It’s a must to have a mentality that’s tough, and he introduced it out of me. I had the precise dance accomplice in entrance of me and I’m glad he gave me the chance. I advised him to maintain that very same power as a result of I’m bringing it within the ring.
“My father could be pleased with me,” he concluded. “It is a steppingstone. It is a marathon. In a marathon, you come throughout the desk with some water, however that’s only a pitstop so you’ll be able to maintain going to the subsequent. I’m coming!”
“It simply wasn’t my evening tonight,” mentioned a disillusioned Valenzuela. “His velocity obtained to me somewhat bit, and I used to be sluggish on my toes. No excuses, I’ve to make changes. I’ve to return to the drafting board now, come out stronger from this and bounce again like I do know I can.”
Pay-per-view motion additionally noticed WBC World Tremendous Light-weight Champion Alberto “La Avispa” Puello (24-0, 10 KOs) of the Dominican Republic defend his title with a detailed 12-round cut up choice over Spain’s Sandor Martin (42-4, 15 KOs).
Martin instantly began the all-southpaw battle by coming ahead, making use of stress, and was in a position to land a number of efficient punches to the top and physique of the undefeated champion.
The 31-year-old Martin complained to coach Rafael Martin he was seeing double out of his proper eye after spherical two, however seemingly unhindered, got here out firing prolonged barrages of onerous punches in an thrilling spherical three.
Usually a troublesome stylistic puzzle to unravel, Puello was in a position to land the occasional counterpunch towards Martin however continued to look uncomfortable with the Spaniard’s free-swinging aggression and efficient defensive motion all through a lot of the center rounds.
Making changes, 30-year-old Puello started to seek out extra success in spherical eight, touchdown sharp counters and letting his arms go extra typically with fast combos on a slowly fading Martin. Puello appeared to briefly harm Martin with a left to the physique in spherical 11.
Martin suffered a lower on his proper eye throughout a carefully contested closing spherical, in the end scored in Puello’s favor by all three judges.
A carefully fought contest all through, the combatants had been separated by three or fewer landed punches in 9 of the twelve rounds. Puello landed 36 extra jabs than Martin, whereas Martin landed 48 extra energy punches than Puello. Martin had a 86-43 edge in physique punches landed. One decide scored the battle 115-113 for Martin, whereas the opposite two judges scored the battle 115-113 and 116-112 for Puello.
Opening up the pay-per-view, fast-rising Cuban slugger Yoenis “El Bandolero” Tellez (10-0, 7 KOs) confirmed a veteran’s persistence and poise whereas dominating former IBF World Tremendous Welterweight Champion Julian “J Rock” Williams (29-5-1, 17 KOs) by way of 12-round unanimous choice to win the interim WBA Tremendous Welterweight Championship.
The extra skilled 34-year-old Williams was in a position to stifle a lot of the offense of his 24-year-old foe, particularly within the first half of the battle, through the use of fixed movement and selecting his spots, however couldn’t muster sufficient of his personal offense to sway the momentum.
Unfazed, Tellez upped the stress starting in spherical seven and was in a position to lump up Williams’ face with thudding hooks and uppercuts, whereas additionally sinking a number of hooks to the physique. Williams was lower over the left eye in spherical three and was compelled to go to the ringside doctor for a verify of his facial harm earlier than spherical 11.
Williams, who was coming off a 13-month layoff, fought competitively and by no means seemed to be significantly harm, however was bested by Tellez in each stat class tracked by CompuBox.
Tellez linked on 30% of his jabs and 44% of his energy punches, whereas limiting Williams to connecting on 27% of his punches. Tellez additionally landed 47 extra physique punches than Williams.
The judges scored the battle 118-110, 117-111, and 119-109- all for Tellez.
Previous the pay-per-view, a three-fight PBC on Prime Video preliminary lineup was topped by a 10-round middleweight bout which will have been the ultimate ring look of 34-year-old former IBF World Tremendous Welterweight Champion Jarrett “Swift” Hurd (25-4-1, 17 KOs) of Accokeek, MD, as he suffered a split-decision loss to Venezuelan energy puncher Johan “The Chelo Manotas” González (36-4, 34 KOs).
Using roughhouse techniques and discovering frequent success with a robust looping proper hand, González outworked and roughed up Hurd within the majority of rounds. Hurd began complaining early on about Gonzalez main along with his head, and referee Charlie Fitch was satisfied to challenge a powerful warning for González in spherical seven. Nevertheless, Hurd appeared to not have the reflexes wanted to reply his opponent’s tougher photographs successfully.
The scores had been 96-94 and 98-92 for González, which overruled the remaining decide’s choice of 96-94 in favor of Hurd.
“Hear man, God is sweet and each fighters made it out wholesome,” mentioned Hurd, combating again tears post-fight. “This was my first time combating somebody with three arms, however I’m a person of my phrase. This would be the final time you all will see me. Thanks for the love and assist. I had an exquisite profession.”
In a six-round welterweight battle between undefeated prospects, 19-year-old David “The Bodysnatcher” Whitmire (9-0, 6 KOs) prevailed with a transparent, however aggressive, unanimous choice over 22-year-old Ángel “Machete” Muñoz (7-1, 5 KOs) as all three judges scored the battle 60-54 in favor of Whitmore. In an energetic battle all through, the pair threw over 800 mixed punches. Nevertheless, Whitmire used his three-inch attain benefit, educated jab and highly effective two-handed salvos to the physique to regulate the motion.
Kicking off the livestream, undefeated Deric “Scooter” Davis (6-0, 6 KOs) displayed his energy by knocking out Jamal Johnson (2-1, 1 KO) within the first spherical. The 22-year-old from Fort Washington, MD, dropped the undefeated, however outgunned, Johnson twice with sharp left hooks within the opening spherical, with the second knockdown being sufficient to persuade referee Ricky Gonzalez to cease the battle at 1:56.
The occasion was promoted by GTD Promotions and TGB Promotions.
