The New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) has confirmed a “technical issue” that stopped the use of instant replay during the last boxing bout between Gervonta “Tank” Davis and Lamont Roach Jr., where there was a questionable no-call when Davis knelt in the ninth round. The commission is reviewing the event to decide what to do next.
The Controversial Incident
In the ninth round of the fight at Barclays Center, Roach threw a jab and then a hard right hand, sending Davis to the knee. Referee Steve Willis started a count but then let Davis go back to his corner without declaring it a knockdown or penalizing him, which strayed from the usual procedures in boxing.
NYSAC’s Response
In an ESPN statement, the NYSAC explained that they were unable to review the situation due to a “technical problem” with the instant replay machine and verified that the situation is being reviewed.
Implications of the No-Call
The no-call was instrumental in determining the outcome of the fight. Two of the judges had the bout 114-114, thus creating a majority draw, while the third judge had Davis 115-113. If the knockdown had been legally ruled, it might have swung the scores to Roach’s favor.
Response from the Boxing Community
The error has triggered controversy among boxing people on the issue of officiating quality and instant replay systems’ reliability. Critics suggest that such blunders discredit the integrity of the sport and require enhanced procedures to avert the repetition of the event in the future.
While the NYSAC performs its review, possible resolutions may involve putting measures in place to make instant replay systems more reliable and improving referee training to guarantee compliance with established procedures. The commission’s report may also inform future regulation to ensure the integrity of boxing competitions.
