BROOKLYN–Gervonta Davis is still undefeated, he is still champion, but that should be in question after he got a 12-round split draw with local rival Lamont Roach Jr. in front of a record crowd of 19,250 at Barclays Center.
Davis started off the first half of fight in decent fashion as he slowed the pace and was able to squeeze some early rounds under his belt by thin margins.
Roach, who is the WBA champion at Super Featherweight, looked and started to fight like the bigger man as he began to dictate the fight on his on terms by engaging Davis in a series of toe-to-toe exchanges for which he got the better of. In round nine, Roach seemed to land a punch that made Davis take a step back and take a knee. Referee Steve Willis started to and then stopped the count and ultimately ruled it a slip. Davis then leaned between the ropes and got toweled off by his corner with the consent in Willis. That action would seem to warrant a disqualification but Willis let the fight continue. The fight continued at a furious pace which favored the 16-1 underdog Roach, and many ringside observers and fans watching on television echoed their thoughts via social media that they thought that despite the antics in round nine, that Roach deserved to have his hands raised. That was not the case as one judge scored the fight for Davis 115-113, while two other judges scored it even at 114-114.
Davis landed 103 of 279 punches. Roach was 112 of 400.
GERVONTA DAVIS
“I think I pulled it out in the last three rounds for sure. I was catching him with some clean shots. I feel I was breaking him down as the rounds were going on, but he kept coming so I didn’t want to make mistakes and I kept it cautious. “I made it competitive to be honest. For sure, Lamont is a great fighter. He got the skills like I said before and the punching power. It was a lesson learned. Shout out to Lamont Roach and his whole team. Hopefully we can run it back in New York. Let’s do it again baby! “A little shit talking. That’s how it is when you are competitive. That’s how it is when you grew up in the sport together. Hopefully we can get a rematch. If not, all the beset to Lamont Roach and his whole team. “I just got my hair done two days ago and she put grease in my shit. So, the grease was coming into my face. It’s all cool. They love you, then they hate you. Then they love you again. You know what I mean?
LAMONT ROACH
This is every day for me. I ain’t gonna lie. I’m cut like this. I’ve been one of the ones and I came out here and showed it. I’m a little disappointed in the decision. I thought I pulled it out. That’s what two skilled fighters do, go in there and show off their craft. I definitely thought I won but we can run it back . Gervonta is a great fighter. I thank him for the opportunity to show all the people that were doubting me, all the fake boxing media and fans talking shit. That shit got flipped upside down. Even though I didn’t win tonight, I thought I did, but it’s a win for me in my book, but we are not satisfied with that. We need a real W. I told y’all in every interview single interview since the fight got announced. I put belt to ass. And you can see that’s what I do. I’m him. I’m one of the best fighters in the world and it showed tonight. It should have been a knockdown. If that was knockdown, I win the fight. He’s saying grease got in his eye, but if he takes a knee and the ref starts counting, it should be a knockdown. It is what it is. I’m not banking on that knockdown to win. I just thought I pulled it out. I want to run it back for sure. I hope you all enjoyed yourself. Thanks for loving me and thanks for hating me. I’ll be back on the grand stage again, where I belong.
Gary Antuanne Russell Decisions Valenzuela to Win Super Lightweight Title
Gary Antuanne Russell won the WBA Super Lightweight Title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Jose Valenzuela.
Russell was dominant, especially with his straight left. In round eight, he had Valenzuela thinking as he landed a few straight lefts. In round nine, with Valenzuela bleeding from the nose, Russell landed a series of hard straight left hands that caromed off the face of Valenzuela. One buckled the champion. Round 11 saw Russell continue to batter Valenzuela with left hands. He hurt Valenzuela with a left to the body. Both southpaws landed bombs with the left hand in round 12 that culminated the entertaining fight.
Russell landed 252 of 957 punches. Valenzuela was 127 of 443.
Russell, 138.2 lbs of Capitol Heights, MD won by scores of 120-108 and 119-109 twice and is now 18-1. Valenzuela, 138.8 lbs of Los Mochis, MEX is 14-3.
GARY ANTUANNE RUSSELL“I want to thank God. This is a small steppingstone for me. I’m going for the rest of the belts. I love y’all for supporting us. Thank you for making this arena a grand arena. I did it for DC and my family. We are onto the next! “A rule of thumb in my profession is you have to follow instructions. My brother always told me, the difference between great and good is inches or centimeters and the ability to produce because that what it takes. “Valenzuela motivated me a hell of a lot. In this sport, you have to be dominant. You have to have a rough mentality, and he brought it out of me. I had the right dance partner in front of me and I’m glad he gave me the opportunity. I told him to keep that same energy because I’m bringing it in the ring. “My father would be proud of me. This is a steppingstone. This is a marathon. In a marathon, you come across the table with some water, but that’s just a pitstop so you can keep going to the next. I’m coming!”
JOSÉ VALENZUELA
“It just wasn’t my night tonight. His speed got to me a little bit, and I was slow on my feet. No excuses, I have to make adjustments”
“I have to go back to the drawing board now, come out stronger from this and bounce back like I know I can”
Puello Edges Martin; Retains Super Lightweight Title
Alberto Puello retained the WBC Super Lightweight world title with a 12-round split decision over Sandor Martin.
It was a close fight with neither fighter taking any sustained advantage. Puello landed a few more of the harder shots, and that is what may have propelled him to the victory that saw cards read 116-112, 115-113 and 115-113 for Martin.
Puello landed 150 of 526 punches. Martin was 162 of 441.
Puello, 139.2 lbs of San Juan de la Maguana, DR is now 24-0. Martin, 139.2 lbs of Barcelona, SPA is 42-4.
ALBERTO PUELLO
“I thought that the judges made the right call. I didn´t fight like I wanted to, but I fought like the champion I am.
“I had some issues coming out at the beginning of some rounds, but I adapted and ended up resolving each challenge that came my way.
“It’s time for me to go after unifying titles. I will take on any champion, anytime.”
SANDOR MARTÍN
“I felt like I won this fight, but I’m not the judges and they clearly saw it a different way. I don’t know what I’m lacking, but I’m not about to give up.
“I’ll talk to my team to figure out what’s next. I leave New Yirk with my head held high.”
Tellez Decisions Former Champion Williams; Wins Interim Super Welterweight Title
Yoenis Tellez won a 12-round unanimous decision over former unified world champion Julian Williams to win the WBA Interim Super Welterweight title.
In round three, Williams was cut under his right eye. In round five, the blood started coming from around his right eye.
Tellez was crisp with his right hand and Williams was unable to sustain consistent offense.
Tellez landed 180 of 502 punches. Williams was 108 of 399.
Tellez, 153.4 lbs od Santiago de Cuba, CUB won by scores of 119-109, 118-110 and 117-111 and is now 10-0. Williams, 152.2 lbs of Philadelphia is 29-5-1.
YOENIS TÉLLEZ
“This was a complete effort, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. I want to dedicate this to my team and all my loved ones, as well as the fans who came out here to support me”.
“J-Rock (Williams) is a great champion, and I gave it my all through 12 rounds against a quality opponent”
“What’s next? I don’t know yet. The only thing I’m sure of is that I’m ready to face any champion out there, and that the 154-pound division has a hungry Cuban fighter coming for more
JULIAN WILLIAMS
“I don’t know what was missing. I’ll have to look at the tape. In the end, I hope that the fans got to enjoy a great fight”
Johan Gonzalez took a 10-round split decision over former unified world champion Jarrett Hurd in a middleweight bout.
Gonzalez landed 228 of 674 punches. Hurd was 141 of 478.
Gonzalez, 158.8 lbs of Valencia, VEN won by scores of 98-92, 96-94 and 96-94 for Hurd. Gonzalez is now 36-4. Hurd, 159 1/2 lbs of Accokeek, MD is now 28-4-1;
David Whitmire remained undefeated with a six-round unanimous decision over Angel Munoz in a welterweight bout.
Whitmire, 146.4 lbs of Washington, DC won by scores of 60-54 on all cards is now 9-0. Munoz,
Deric Davis blew out Jamal Johnson inside of a round of their four-round lightweight bout.
Davis scored two knockdowns. The first coming on a left hook in the corner. The second coming from a combination. Johnson got to his feet but wobbled and the fight was stopped at 1:56.
Davis, 138.2 lbs of Fort Washington, MD is 6-0 with six knockouts. Johnson, 140.8 lbs of Baltimore is 2-1.
Dwyke Flemmings Jr. remained undefeated with an six-round unanimous decision over Florent Dervis in a super welterweight bout.
In round one Flemmings was all over Derbis and dropped him with a hard left in the corner.
Flemmings, 155 lbs of Paterson, NJ won on all cards and goes the distance for the first time and is now 10-0. Dervis, 155.2 lbs of Boston is 10-3.
In the opening contest, Cristian Cangelosi pitched a shut in winning an eight-round unanimous decision over Jerrod Tennant in a super welterweight bout
Cangelosi, 155 lbs of Brooklyn won by scores of 80-72 on all cards and is now 10-0. Tennant, 155.2 lbs of Los Angeles is 9-4.
NOTES…Saturday night’s Gervonta Davis vs. Lamont Roach Premier Boxing Champions event at Barclays Center has not only set the all-time attendance record in the arena’s history but has also become the second-highest grossing event of all time for the Brooklyn arena. Davis also broke his attendance record for a boxing event at Barclays Center, with a sold-out crowd of 19,250, eclipsing his previous record set in May 2022 when he scored a high-light reel KO of Rolando Romero.
“Brooklyn has become Gervonta Davis’ home away from home, and the energy he brings to Barclays Center is unmatched,” said Laurie Jacoby, Executive Vice President and Chief Entertainment Officer at BSE Global, parent company of Barclays Center. “Each time he steps into the ring, the atmosphere electrifies, creating unforgettable moments for boxing fans. We are thrilled to continue hosting Gervonta’s fights, as he has become one of the sport’s biggest attractions, drawing crowds from across the world. Boxing is an integral part of our diverse programming slate at Barclays Center, and we’re proud to be a venue that champions the legacy of this great sport. As Gervonta’s momentum grows, so does the excitement surrounding every fight — it’s an honor to be part of his journey.”