Lamont Roach entered as the underdog when he faced Gervonta Davis on March 1 at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. The bout ended in controversy, with two judges scoring it 114-114 and a third giving Davis a narrow 115-113 edge, resulting in a majority decision draw. However, many observers felt The Reaper had done enough to win, a belief reinforced when Davis took a knee midway through Round 9 before retreating to his corner, claiming chemicals from his hair were stinging his eyes. Referee Steve Willis opted not to call a knockdown, a decision that angered Roach’s camp and fans alike, fueling accusations of bias toward Davis, the sport’s bigger star.

A number of leading ringside analysts and former champions publicly criticized the non-call, and social feeds filled with replay threads and

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