As much as the disappointment looms, folks can rest assured this won’t be 2025’s Haney-Garcia…the lawsuit part, that is. More than anyone else, Lamont Roach Jr. is upset and justifiably angry. His dreams of becoming a two-division titleholder foresee a delay. Roach Jr. was convinced about his victory. If only referee Steve Willis had stuck with the knockdown, Gervonta Davis would have suffered a first-ever, historic defeat.

Following a review, the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) upheld the decision—a majority draw. With that, hopes for Lamont Roach Jr. to etch a name in boxing history are temporarily over. While the incident projects a sad state of affairs, it lays bare a blemish on the sport. Many wondered whether Roach Jr. would follow in Devin Haney‘s footsteps – approaching the court to settle his grievance. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Lamont Roach Jr.: Let’s keep the focus on the fight, not legal drama

Roach explained, “Look, man, I’m going tell y’all straight up I ain’t sue nobody.” The Washington D.C. native couldn’t have been more straightforward. For the record, what he and the team filed was an ‘appeal.’ He appreciated the efforts put in by his team. “What it look like not having a team that don’t pull that trigger on some sh*t that they know was wrong? They stood up for me,” Roach Jr. added before concluding, “So all that lawsuit sh*t you all can put to rest.”

A few days ago, Rick Glaser also shed some light as the situation grew murkier. Separating the Haney action from Roach Jr.’s move, the veteran boxing insider said, “Lamont Roach has officially filed a protest with the New York State Athletic Commission. A boxing protest is not a lawsuit. What Devin Haney did was actually file a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia.”

About his stand, Lamont Roach Jr. offered further clarification. He wasn’t really ‘surprised’ by the NYSAC verdict. Though unhappy, what offered him satisfaction was that they acknowledged referee Steve Willis’ glaring error.

“A lil disappointed, yea. Especially when they ACKNOWLEDGED the fact that Steve made the wrong calls in the 9th round. But I wasn’t banking on the overturn,” he said. While sharing the popular opinion that he won the fight, Roach Jr. probably hinted at a rematch: “Part 2 otw.”

The decisive ruling, when it came down

Initially, it seemed ‘technical difficulties’ interfered and impeded the NYSAC from reviewing the sequence – Gervonta Davis taking the knee, moving to his corner, and referee Steve Willis’ actions. Sharing their final decision, NYSAC pointed out the referee should have called a knockdown when Gervonta Davis’ knee touched the canvas.

The referee had the authority to make the call in real-time. But the fight continued for more than three rounds after the missed knockdown call. Both fighters had to adapt to the ruling. Thus meaning it did not ultimately determine the outcome of the fight. So in short: Yes, the ref likely got it wrong, but it wasn’t a decisive factor in the fight’s result, and the ref had the final say.

Thankfully, with Roach Jr. making his stand clear, which should be appreciated by all, boxing is somehow saved from yet another ignominy of settling issues outside the ring.

What is your take on the NYSAC verdict? Do you think an immediate rematch is the only recourse to correct the mistake?