Boxing Rankings Update: Roach’s Controversial Draw with Davis

Divisional rankings: Where does Roach land?

Lamont Roach Jr. faced Gervonta “Tank” Davis in a closely contested bout that concluded in a controversial majority draw on Saturday. This match took place in Brooklyn and has significant implications for rankings within the sport. Following this result, Roach has now made his mark in multiple weight classes, appearing as the sole fighter in ESPN’s rankings to hold placements across different divisions.

Currently, Roach ranks No. 6 in the lightweight category at 135 pounds after demonstrating his adeptness by fighting tooth and nail against Davis, the WBA champion and the top contender in ESPN’s lightweight rankings. Generally, when boxers transition to a new weight division, they lose their previous ranking; however, Roach holds onto his place as the WBA junior lightweight titleholder, maintaining the No. 5 spot in the 130-pound category.

Roach’s case for victory against Davis is bolstered by a pivotal moment in Round 9, where a disputed knockdown call could have altered the fight’s outcome. If referee Steve Willis had scored that moment correctly, Roach would have clinched a win on the judges’ scorecards, with two judges marking it as 114-114 and one favoring Davis at 115-113.

As Roach awaits the possibility of a rematch, Davis expressed interest in revisiting their matchup, indicating that a rematch could occur later this May.

In undercard action, Gary Antuanne Russell delivered an impressive performance against Jose Valenzuela, winning decisively and securing the WBA junior welterweight title. This victory further expands the Russell family’s legacy in the boxing world, as they now have two champions in their ranks. Russell is now positioned at No. 6 in the 140-pound rankings, while Valenzuela fell from the top 10.

In another title bout on the undercard, Alberto Puello successfully retained his WBC title by means of a split-decision win over Sandor Martin, which now places him in the No. 4 ranking. Martin, having previously faced Teofimo Lopez in December 2022, finds himself facing another contentious decision loss, though he still manages to enter the rankings at No. 10.

ESPN’s boxing divisional rankings aim to celebrate the top talents across weight classes, adjusting based on the latest fight results and performances. Full-time fighters will maintain their rankings unless they have not competed in over a year, upon which they will be excluded until they re-enter the ring. Additionally, any athlete facing sanctions for performance-enhancing substances will also be removed from the rankings until their return match.

For a comprehensive list of current champions across the different weight divisions, please follow this link to our champions list. Likewise, for insights into the top-ranked female boxers, check out the ESPN women’s divisional rankings.