Floyd Mayweather’s Protege Comes Clean on Gervonta Davis Taking a Knee vs. Lamont Roach Jr

Every coin has two sides. And just like that, the March 1 fight has split fans right down the middle. The hardcore boxing crowd? They’ll tell you it was a textbook knockdown in round nine. No ifs, ands, or buts. But others argue that Gervonta Davis took a knee on his own. This means no punches landed before that. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Well, we might never know. The replay was conveniently unavailable due to so-called “technical issues”. And even though the latest ruling from NYSAC counts it as a knockdown, unfortunately for Lamont Roach Jr., the fight still stands as a draw.

That fight’s been in the books for over a week, but fans aren’t letting it go anytime soon. Until they see these two back in the ring, the debates will rage on. And guess what? The conversation just got even hotter. A rising young lightweight star has thrown his hat in the ring, weighing in on the controversy. So, what did he have to say?

A “little touch jab” might’ve caused the knockdown, says Floyd Mayweather’s protégé

A few hours ago, The Boxing Voice dropped a clip from their interview with Floyd Mayweather’s protege, Curmel Moton. Mentored by the 50-0 legend since he was just eight years old, Moton has built a reputation for his knockout power in the ring. With that kind of skill and experience, it’s no surprise that a reporter turned to him for his take on the hot topic. “Gervonta Davis, he took a knee. Was that a knockdown? What’s your thought on this situation?” the reporter asked. Curmel Moton started by acknowledging that the fight between Gervonta Davis and Lamont Roach was an exciting and competitive match where both fighters performed well. “I think that fight was great. Both of them guys really came out and put on a show,” he said.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 01: Gervonta Davis punches Lamont Roach Jr. during their bout for Davis’ WBA lightweight title at Barclays Center on March 01, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

When addressing the knee situation, Moton explained that, based on boxing rules, taking a knee should generally be considered a knockdown. He pointed out that Tank Davis was hit with a light jab near the eye before going down on one knee. Although the punch wasn’t particularly strong, the fact that Davis voluntarily took a knee right after being hit makes it debatable whether it should be ruled as a knockdown. “As far as the knee situation, I feel like it was a knockdown. Just based on the rules of boxing. Like, you take a knee. And he got hit with a little, even though it wasn’t hard, a little touch jab, and it hit him on the eye too. And he took a knee right after,” the 18-year-old explained.

However, towards the end, the 7-0 boxer hesitated in his conclusion. “So I wouldn’t have called it a knockdown. But even with the knockdown, I don’t think…. Actually I don’t know,” the rising lightweight prospect stated. Regardless of the controversy, he emphasized that it was still a great fight. While the 18-year-old seemed unsure about the knockdown, the boxing elites had no doubt about what really went down.

NYSAC sides with Gervonta Davis in controversial ruling

A few days back, ESPN’s Mike Coppinger took to X and posted, “The New York State Athletic Commission has upheld the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach result following the controversial Round 9, per a ruling obtained by ESPN. “Since the bout continued for more than 3 full rounds after the referee’s no knockdown call, and because the boxers necessarily adjusted to the referee’s ruling, the referee’s call was not outcome-determinative.”

Translation? The Reaper isn’t getting that round back. And sure, his fans are upset, but it’s not just them. Canelo Alvarez himself didn’t hold back. He flat-out said round 9 should have been marked 10-8. But that’s not all he noticed. Mid-fight, Davis’ coach, Calvin Ford, climbed onto the corner to wipe his face, a clear violation of the rules. And Canelo? He said, “That’s a disqualification for sure.”

But hey, no point crying over spilled milk, right? The rematch is looking pretty likely, and that’s what really matters. The big question now is—Who takes it this time? Teofimo Lopez thinks Gervonta Davis needed a wake-up call, especially if Shakur Stevenson is next in line. But whether it’s Shakur or Roach in front of him, fans expect to see the 30-0 boxer at his absolute best next time around. Meanwhile, Roach, still fuming over NYSAC shutting down his appeal, now has even more fire in his belly to prove it was not all a fluke.

So, what do you think? Will Roach turn the tables and shock the world, or will Gervonta Davis come back sharper than ever?

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