The match is over. Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach Jr. fight to a majority draw – an unheard-of result in Tank Davis’ dazzling KO history. The bout largely remained at the center of the ring and went the full distance. Much credit goes to Roach Jr. for mounting a credible offense that had Davis on the back foot on several occasions.

Despite the outcome, the fight had its moments. One, in particular, caught the attention of many fans – it happened in the ninth round. In the middle of the fight, Gervonta Davis unexpectedly took a knee and walked toward his corner. However, much to the chagrin of the viewers, the referee failed to count it as a knockdown and chose to issue only a warning to Davis. Needless to say, fans quickly jumped into the discussion, sharing their views on the contentious moment. The move certainly didn’t go unnoticed by Terence Crawford. The two-division undisputed champion immediately took a parting shot at what appeared to be a potential officiating mishap.

Hit the canvas, but not the fight

“I never seen someone take a knee, and they don’t count it as a knockdown. Must’ve forgot the rules for tonight,” Crawford remarked. An Instagram post featured a poser: “⁉️ Why did the referee not count a knockdown there? And will the judges acknowledge it in their official scorecards? 👀” Strictly speaking, when a fighter’s hand and knee touch the mat, it is considered a knockdown. However, in the PBC-Amazon headliner, no such ruling was made, and the fight simply resumed. As a result, it definitely remained uncounted in the scorecards.

Barely a minute into the ninth round, fighting on the inside, Roach Jr. had Tank backed against the ropes. “Roach is closing the gap,” even the commentator didn’t miss. Keeping a high guard, it briefly seemed like Davis was about to unleash a deadly left. But in a surprising twist, Roach Jr. threw a right, prompting an immediate retreat from Gervonta Davis.

Then, to everyone’s utter shock, Davis stepped back, glanced at the referee, and took a knee before walking toward his corner, gesturing. Referee Steve Willis quickly stepped in, sending Roach Jr. to his corner while urging Davis to get back up. After a brief exchange with the lightweight champion, the fight resumed – but not everyone was convinced.

Not exactly playing fair

To this one, the writing was on the wall: “Tank just lost.” Many felt likewise. Many felt the same way. As Roach Jr. fought back and gained ground on the scorecards, a knockdown ruling could have sealed a favorable decision for him.

The next one also had their doubts. “12 rounds with a 130-pounder? Smh, Is no way y’all are going to convince me Shakur, Teo, and Keyshawn can’t hang in there with Tank,” they said. Given how the fight unfolded, questions about Davis’ ability to withstand elite pressure – especially from fighters like Shakur Stevenson and Keyshawn Davis – are bound to arise.

Skepticism continued. “That’s what they do in boxing; when the A side loses, they just get a draw. Roach not only won that because he did better than what people expected; he won, period…,” said this fan. They might not be entirely off the mark. Situations like these often raise concerns about whether star power influences decisions.

To this follower, it was a ‘royal treatment.’ They said, “They left it alone like it was a normal thing. Royal treatment.” Instances where preferential treatment is perceived – whether real or not – inevitably call the sport’s integrity into question. Some took swipes at the referee: “Refs are gonna cheat.” Indeed, officiating a high-stakes fight at Barclays Center is no easy task, but does that justify overlooking a potential rule violation?

It’s disappointing to see a fight of such magnitude overshadowed by controversy.

There’s a real chance that most will remember it for ‘Knee-gate’ rather than the action inside the ring. Regardless of the fighters’ stature, boxing rules should be enforced consistently and without bias. That should be the norm.

What are your thoughts on Gervonta Davis taking a knee mid-fight?