Photo: Getty Images
WBA lightweight title holder Gervonta Davis claimed hair grease caused him to voluntarily take a knee during his fight against Lamont Roach Jr., which ended in a controversial draw.
On Saturday (March 1), the match between Davis and Roach ended as a majority draw, with two judges scoring it 114-114 and the third judge scoring in Davis' favor 115-113, per CNN. The result means Davis retains his WBA lightweight title and unbeaten record.
However, controversy followed the fight after Davis voluntarily took a knee during the ninth round. Referee Steve Willis didn't administer a count despite the rules saying an official must do so if a glove or knee touches the canvas.
“The rules do state if you voluntarily take the knee, then that’s an automatic count,” Roach said following his lightweight debut. “But it is what it is. I wasn’t relying on that. I was relying on what I was doing in there. I think I was taking control, I think I was landing more shots, I think I was landing more power shots. I thought I was doing my thing. But if that was counted as a knockdown, I would win the majority decision.”
Davis later claimed that hair grease running into his eyes prompted him to take a knee. His response was met with boos at Barclays Center.
"I just got my hair done two days ago and she put grease in my s***," he said, referring to his hairstylist. "So the s*** was like sweating and things like that and the grease coming in my my face.
"It burned my eyes type s***, yeah. Damn, why y'all booing like I'm saying bulls***?" Davis continued. "Like, this is real facts. Come on, man. Look at my hair, I just got my s*** done.
"But it's all cool, man. You know how it get. They love you, then they hate you. Turn around then they love you again."
According to The Sun, Davis' hairstylist, Lee The Brand, spoke out against the fighter's claims.
“I did his hair WEDNESDAY, It’s SATURDAY! He did press, gym, and weigh in," the hairstylist wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post. "That’s no excuse, how much grease did I use damn.”
She also reportedly shared a photo of a Conditioning Shine product that read "no grease" on the label.
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